Light The Menorah!: Concert Band Conductor Score & Parts

Warm and celebratory, with moments of real tenderness balanced against exuberant, dancing energy. The harmonies feel generous and full without ever becoming heavy, and the piece carries an unmistakable sense of cultural pride woven through every phrase.

Concert bands at the Grade 4 level seeking a substantial yet accessible holiday work that treats the subject matter with genuine musicality. Directors programming winter concerts want music that engages both audience and ensemble; this delivers on both fronts.

• Balance the three melodic themes carefully during tutti passages so each tune remains audible rather than blending into harmonic soup. Sectional rehearsals focusing on which parts carry the tune at any given moment will pay dividends.
• The lively dance sections need rhythmic precision from your rhythm section. Lock the eighth-note subdivisions between percussion and low brass early, then layer in the upper voices.
• Lean into the dynamic contrasts between the lush harmonic sections and the rousing passages. Exaggerate the soft-to-loud shifts slightly more than feels natural in rehearsal; the effect will settle into something genuinely moving in performance.

This works beautifully as the closing number of a winter concert, especially if your program includes secular holiday music or multi-cultural selections. It also fits well in December pops concerts where you want something with substance beyond the typical crowd-pleasing fare.

• Balancing multiple melodic lines in a single sonority
• Dynamic contrast and shaping in ensemble context
• Rhythmic precision in both lyrical and dance-tempo sections
• Part independence and awareness of when each voice carries harmonic or melodic responsibility