My Candles: 2nd Violin
In the Window
Traditional Hanukkah / arr. Brendan McBrien
Grade: 2.5
Item: 00-PC-0017678_VN2
$5.99
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Description
This traditional Hanukkah song, My Candles (sometimes known as "In the Window"), is a lovely and haunting melody written in strophic form. Strophic music is a song that has only one phrase of melodic material with changing text to give variation. Now combined by arranger Brendan McBrien with an original melody that appears between verses, this piece is a beautiful addition to the holiday repertoire! (3:00)
Don't just read it, hear it, play along with it, and watch your students grow with it. In MakeMusic Cloud, My Candles: 2nd Violin comes alive with professional accompaniment, adjustable tempo, and built-in practice tools that turn solo practice into real progress.
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Additional Details
Series:
Highland/Etling String Orchestra
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
118
SKU:
00-PC-0017678_VN2
More about this title
About the Arranger: Brendan McBrien
Brendan McBrien began his musical journey in Sunnyvale, California, where he took up French horn in the fourth grade. He went on to earn both his bachelor's and master's degrees in music composition and conducting from California State University, Long Beach, and spent over three decades performing as a professional French horn player with symphony orchestras and in recording studios across Los Angeles and Orange County.
McBrien's arrangements and compositions for band and orchestra have been performed internationally and published by Alfred, Kendor, Kjos, and Wingert-Jones Music. Since 1988 he has taught in the Irvine Unified School District, where he currently directs bands and orchestras at Rancho San Joaquin Middle School and teaches music arranging at Cal State Long Beach. He serves as an active adjudicator, clinician, and workshop presenter for regional conventions and has received recognition as Middle School Teacher of the Year.
Why we love this
McBrien's arrangement honors the original strophic melody while introducing a contrasting interlude that gives the piece architectural shape and keeps student interest across three minutes. The Grade 2.5 setting is genuinely accessible to developing ensembles without sacrificing musicality, and the Hanukkah context makes this a culturally responsive choice that expands your holiday programming beyond the typical December repertoire.
What to expect
The melody carries a quiet, reflective quality that suggests candlelight and contemplation. The addition of the interlude creates moments of gentle motion and color between returns of the familiar theme, giving the piece a sense of journey while maintaining the lyrical character that makes the original tune so memorable.
Who it's for
Middle school and early high school string orchestras looking for accessible repertoire that honors Jewish tradition and extends their seasonal programming. Directors who want a piece with real melodic appeal that students find satisfying to perform without excessive technical demands.
How to get the most out of it
- Balance the primary melody between first violins and the inner voices that double it; the arrangement works best when listeners hear the tune singing through, not stranded in the first violin part alone.
- Shape the contrasting interlude with slight dynamic emphasis to clarify it as a distinct section; this helps audiences follow the formal structure and gives performers a moment to reset before returning to the familiar theme.
- Approach the harmonic language with warmth rather than precision; this traditional melody benefits from singing tone and gentle vibrato in the upper strings, even at this developmental level.
How to use it
Anchor a winter concert devoted to holiday music across cultures, or pair it with other selections that celebrate diverse traditions alongside more mainstream seasonal fare. At just over three minutes, it works perfectly as a bridge between heavier works in a longer program.
Skills your students will build
- Singing melodic lines with consistent vibrato and warm tone
- Balancing primary and secondary melody parts in mixed textures
- Understanding and performing strophic form with contrasting material
- Reading full orchestra textures at Grade 2.5 level