Light a Candle: 2-Part Choral Octavo
Music by Jay Althouse and Marta Keen
Item: 00-PO-0002095
$2.25
Minimum order quantity: 20 copies
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Description
An easy yet touching piece with a meaningful text: "Light a candle, hold a sign of hope in your hand." Opening statement of the melody may be performed by a male/female duet. Basic choral writing, quickly learned by any age choir.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Archive Edition: Alfred Choral Designs
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
8
SKU:
00-PO-0002095
More about this title
About the Composer: Jay Althouse
Jay Althouse holds degrees in Music Education and Music from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he was later honored as a Distinguished Alumnus. His career spans both the publishing and composing worlds; he spent eight years managing rights and licensing for a major educational music publisher and served on the Executive Board of the Music Publishers Association of America. Today, he is one of the most prolific composers of choral music for all levels, with over 800 works in print performed worldwide.
Beyond composition, Althouse has shaped music education through multiple channels. He has co-created children's musicals with his wife Sally K. Albrecht, compiled influential solo collections such as Folk Songs for Solo Singers, and authored or co-authored widely used classroom resources including The Complete Choral Warm-up Book, Accent on Composers, Ready to Read Music, and Sixty Music Quizzes. His work has earned regular ASCAP Special Awards, and his choral composition I Hear America Singing was performed by the San Francisco Girls and Boys Choirs at President Obama's inauguration in 2009. He currently serves on the National Advisory Board of the Folk Art Society of America.
Why we love this
Althouse crafts pieces that combine accessibility with genuine emotional weight. The opening duet opportunity invites soloists to anchor the group without requiring advanced vocal technique, and the 2-part writing ensures quick absorption by singers of any age while maintaining a text that resonates deeply with winter and holiday themes of hope and community.
What to expect
There is quiet dignity in this piece. The music sits between comfort and gentle uplift, never saccharine but genuinely warm. The text about holding a sign of hope carries weight without requiring theatrical delivery, and the uncomplicated harmonic language allows the message itself to become the focal point of the listener's attention.
Who it's for
Directors working with developing choirs, school groups spanning multiple grades, and ensembles preparing holiday or winter concert programming. The 2-part voicing and straightforward musical language make it accessible to younger singers or less experienced groups, while the meaningful text and emotional core offer something substantial for any ensemble.
How to get the most out of it
- Feature the initial melody as a genuine duet rather than a unison moment; allow those two voices to shine on "Light a candle, hold a sign of hope in your hand" before the full choir enters.
- Shape the phrase with clear breath points that respect the poetic meaning; let the text about hope guide your phrasing rather than mechanical rhythmic patterns.
- Balance the two voice parts so neither overwhelms the other, especially in passages where they move in parallel motion; this clarity helps younger singers hear and lock their line.
- Underscore the hope in the text through dynamic control; avoid treating this as a whisper-quiet piece despite its tenderness, and allow the message to project with quiet confidence.
How to use it
Pair this with other hope-centered or community-minded pieces in a winter program, or feature it as a solo offering during a holiday concert where its message of light and unity will resonate with audiences. It also works beautifully as a contest or festival selection because it is learned quickly, allowing rehearsal time to focus on interpretation and emotional authenticity rather than note-learning.
Skills your students will build
- Two-part harmony singing and blend
- Singing text-driven music with clear diction and phrase awareness
- Solo vs. ensemble awareness through the opening duet section
- Dynamic shape and phrasing in service of textual meaning