Three Moods of Hanukkah

The fourth piece in the concert, entitled Three Moods of Hanukkah, was arranged by Lennie Niehaus (see below) in 1993.

Nothing in the publisher’s material which accompanies this band set specifies the three moods being depicted in this arrangement. So I will only be giving you my subjective impression of the music, mostly based on the original Hanukkah songs which are included in the medley and the character of the music with each song.

Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem at about 160 B.C. at the time of the Maccabean Revolt against

the Seleucid Empire.

It is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar. It is also known as the Festival of Lights and the Feast of Dedication. This year, Hanukkah begins at sunset on Wednesday, December 25th, and ends at nightfall on Thursday, January 2nd.

The festival is observed by lighting the candles of a candelabrum with nine branches, called a Hanukkah menorah. One branch is typically placed above or below the others and its candle is used to light the other eight candles. This unique candle is called the shamash (Hebrew for “attendant”). Each night, one additional candle is lit by the shamash until all eight candles are lit together on the final night of the holiday. Other parts of the celebration include special foods, singing dancing and playing a game with a special four-sided top called a dreidel.

The first song in this medley, Hanukkah, O Hanukkah, is an upbeat playful children's song which has lines about dancing the Horah, playing with dreidels, eating latkes, lighting the candles of the menorah, and singing happy songs. The song was written by Mordkhe (Mark) Rivesman, and first published in Susman Kiselgof's 1912 Lider-Zamlbukh.

The second song of the medley, Maoz Tzur, which roughly translates to “Stronghold of Rock”, is a Jewish liturgical poem, written in Hebrew. It is sung on the holiday of Hanukkah, after lighting the festival lights. The hymn is named for its Hebrew incipit, which means “Strong Rock (of my Salvation)” and is a name or epithet for the God in Judaism. It is thought to have been written sometime in the 13th century, although recent research suggests the 12th century. It was originally sung only at home, but has been used in the synagogue since the 19th century or earlier. In more recent years, of its six stanzas most of the time only the first stanza is sung (or the first and fifth).

The third song of the medley, Mi Y’Malel”, is a very well known Hebrew Hanukkah song. The opening line, which literally means “Who can retell the mighty feats of Israel,” is a secular rewording of Psalms 106:2, which reads “Who can retell the mighty feats of God”. The song can be sung as a solo and can also be sung in a round or canon.

With this information, and hearing the music, I would characterize the three moods as Joy, Faith and Celebratory Reflection.

Arranger Leonard (Lennie) Niehaus (1929 – 2020) was an American alto saxophonist, composer and arranger on the West Coast jazz scene. He played with the Stan Kenton Orchestra and served as one of Kenton's primary staff arrangers. He also played with Ray Vasquez and trombonist and vocalist, Phil Carreon and other jazz bands on the U.S. West Coast. Niehaus had a close association as composer and arranger on motion pictures produced by Clint Eastwood.

Following his retirement from the Kenton Orchestra, Niehaus became increasingly active as a commercial arranger and composer. In addition to his commercial compositions and arrangements, he was active as a clinician, performer and adjudicator. He wrote many arrangements for band, orchestra and jazz ensemble, along with several pedagogical works for saxophone.

The music for Three Moods of Hanukkah was purchased for the band by Stephanie Magnusson.