The Chanukah Song (We Are Lights) (arr. Ryan Nowlin): SATB Choral Octavo

Schwartz brings his theatrical sensibility to this Chanukah text, creating a melody that feels both contemporary and grounded in the weight of the holiday's meaning. Ryan Nowlin's arrangement gives singers ample opportunity to blend in the homophonic sections while building moments of textural interest that keep the piece engaging across its 14 pages. The result works equally well as a concert feature or as part of a larger holiday program without requiring specialized vocal techniques or excessive rehearsal time.

Warm and reflective, with an underlying sense of celebration that never tips into saccharine territory. The arrangement uses modest harmonic movement to create intimacy, inviting singers and listeners alike into a moment of genuine reflection about light, continuity, and resilience.

SATB choirs looking for substantive Chanukah repertoire beyond the familiar secular standards. This works for high school or college ensembles, community choirs, and professional groups seeking a piece that honors the holiday while remaining accessible.

• Shape the melodic line in phrases rather than by bar line; Schwartz's phrasing often crosses the notated measure, so singers need to understand where the musical breath happens, not just where rests appear.
• Balance the accompanied passages carefully so that harmonies support rather than obscure the text. The arrangement's texture shifts between unison and fuller voicing; let these changes breathe rather than pushing through them uniformly.
• Attend to the emotional arc of the text. This isn't a novelty holiday song, and the arrangement reflects that. The music asks your singers to commit to what the words actually say.

Program this as the centerpiece of a winter concert's Jewish or interfaith section, or pair it alongside secular holiday repertoire from other traditions to create a meaningful mosaic. Its 14 pages suggest it's substantial enough to anchor a shorter concert while remaining short enough to fit comfortably into a longer program without dominating it.

• Singing text with emotional authenticity rather than mechanical execution
• Balance between supporting harmonies and exposed melodic lines in SATB writing
• Awareness of phrase structure that doesn't align with bar lines
• Interpretation of contemporary choral writing that values clarity of text over technical display