In the Candleglow: 2-Part Choral Octavo
(Shalom)
Words and music by Sally K. Albrecht and Jay Althouse
Item: 00-PO-0005814
$2.05
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
Something special for Hanukkah, a wish for peace throughout the year is the centerpiece. The melody is sung in unison before appearing in echo format, making this gentle choral ballad ideal for those who are new to singing in parts. An optional small group near the end adds a third layer, if desired.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0005814
More about this title
About the Composer: Sally K. Albrecht
Sally K. Albrecht has shaped American choral music for over four decades as a composer, conductor, and clinician. Since 1987, she has received the ASCAP Special Music Award annually and maintains more than 600 published choral works alongside 75 larger-scale musicals and songbooks. She has conducted honor choirs at major venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, and The Kennedy Center, and spent over thirty years directing school choral and vocal publications for leading educational music publishers, including her tenure as Director of School Choral, Vocal, and Elementary Publications at Alfred Music.
Albrecht holds a B.A. in Music and Theater from Rollins College (1976) and earned both an M.A. in Drama (1977) and an M.M. in Accompanying (1979) from the University of Miami. She has taught at Oakland University, Jersey City State College, and Meredith College. In 2021, she received the Distinguished Alumna Award from both the University of Miami Frost School of Music and Rollins College, where she serves on the Board of Trustees. She resides in Wake Forest, North Carolina, with her husband, composer and arranger Jay Althouse.
Why we love this
Albrecht and Althouse craft an accessible entry point into two-part singing without sacrificing musicality or meaning. The unison-to-echo structure lets singers build confidence with the melody before dividing, and the optional small group layer gives you flexibility based on your ensemble's readiness. For a Hanukkah concert, this piece carries genuine emotional weight about peace while remaining gentle enough for younger or less experienced singers.
What to expect
Candlelit and intimate, with a melody that unfolds naturally and feels immediately singable. The echo passages create a sense of reflection and depth without overwhelming singers; the optional small group adds a subtle richness that lifts the final moments without disrupting the piece's essential gentleness.
Who it's for
Directors programming winter concerts who want meaningful choral literature for mixed-age or developing ensembles. This works equally well for youth choirs taking their first steps into two-part singing and for community or school choirs seeking a contemplative piece with cultural resonance.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the unison melody section with clarity and stillness; resist the urge to add dynamics that might compete with the text's quiet contemplation.
- When the melody moves into echo format, keep the second voice slightly softer so the original line remains the focal point; this clarity reinforces the part-singing progression.
- Tune the second part carefully during the echo passages, particularly where voices diverge; younger singers often need visual or physical cues to anchor their pitch independence.
- If you include the optional small group, rehearse them separately first, then layer them in only after both main parts are secure and confident.
How to use it
Open a winter concert with this piece to set a reflective tone, or use it as a transition between more energetic selections. It pairs well with other culturally rooted choral works and works particularly effectively when performed early in the program, before audience attention wanes.
Skills your students will build
- Singing in two parts using echo/staggered entry technique
- Maintaining a secure unison line before dividing into parts
- Part independence and pitch awareness in close harmony
- Musical phrasing and breath management in ballad form
- Singing with clarity and expression in Hebrew or English text