Hanukkah Lights 2014 and Candles Burning Brightly on “The Evening Concert”

Hanukkah starts at sundown Tuesday December 16, 2014. In anticipation of the holiday we present two Hanukkah specials: Hanukkah Lights 2014 and Candles Burning Brightly.

Monday, December 15, 2015

7:00 p.m.: Hanukkah Lights 2014 (from NPR)

A perennial NPR favorite with brand new Hanukkah stories written by acclaimed authors Debra Ginsberg, Anne Burt, Simone Zelitch, Andrew Borowitz, and Theodore Bikel. Hear a wide variety of stories perfect for the holiday — one story is funny and crisp, another historical, and there’s one with a multicultural theme. Also included is a story about the supernatural and one that ends with the best last line for any Hanukkah show, “Love is the only miracle.” Hosted by Susan Stamberg and Murray Horwitz.

8:00 p.m.: Candles Burning Brightly (from APM)

Join hosts Mindy Ratner and Bill Morelock for a one-hour celebration of Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. There's plenty of music from Jewish communities around the world, plus an exploration of holiday traditions, and a special story reading by the incomparable Theodore Bikel..

Dov Frimer, arr H Netsky/J Jacobson - Al Hanissim (Hebrew) - Zamir Chorale of Boston and instrumentalists/Joshua Jacobson (Afka 901)
Traditional, arr J Miller - Shehecheyanu (Hebrew) - Chicago a cappella/Jonathan Miller (Chicago a cappella 2005)
Chaim Parchi, arr J Jacobson - Aleh Neiri (Hebrew) - Chaim Parchi, soloist; Zamir Chorale of Boston/Joshua Jacobson (Afka 901)
Flory Jagoda, arr H Netsky - Ocho Candelikas (Ladino) - Soloists and New England Conservatory Jewish Music Ensemble/Hankus Netsky (Rounder 3165)
Leo Low, arr L Moore - Likhtelekh (Yiddish) - Coro Hebraeico/Neil Levin (Naxos 8.559410)
Traditional/Oujda, Morocco - Hanerot Hallalu ("These Light We Kindle") (Hebrew) - Voice of the Turtle (Titanic 159)
Traditional, arr A. Binder - Maoz Tsur "Rock of Ages" (Hebrew)
Italian chant - Maoz Tsur
Italian chant, arr Benedetto Marcello - Maoz Tsur
Italian chant, arr Hugo Chaim Adler - Maoz Tsur
Zamir Chorale of Boston/Joshua Jacobson (Afka 901)
David Weintraub - Eight Bright Candles - Eaken Piano Trio (Naxos 8.554714)
Break bed: Samuel Adler - To Celebrate a Miracle (excerpt) - University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music Wind Symphony/Rodney Winther (Naxos 8.559410)
Theodore Bikel reads "The Lost Menorah" by Howard Schwartz from Adam's Soul: The Collected Tales of Howard Schwartz (published by Jason Aronson in 1992; now out of print); used with the kind permission of the author
Scott Robinson - Great is the Miracle, mvt II - Eaken Piano Trio (Naxos 8.554714)
Shelley Olson - Blessing fr A Chanukah Cantata - Rosemary Quinn-Milch, cello (Maju Music 00-1.1)
Traditional Sephardic/Adrianopoli, Greece - Quital'tas (Ladino) - Piffaro, with Julianne Baird (rec live in concert, Dec 3, 2011)
Yiddish Folk Song - Bulbes "Potatoes" - Emil Decameron and His Orchestra, rec Vienna 1959 (Vanguard Classics OVC 6005)
Mikhl Gelbart, arr Mark Zuckerman - Ikh bin a kleyner dreydl (Yiddish) - Chicago a cappella/Jonathan Miller (Chicago a cappella 2005)
Traditional, arr J Jacobson - Drey, Dreydelekh (Yiddish) - Zamir Chorale of Boston and instrumentalists/Joshua Jacobson (Afka 901)
Flory Jagoda - Hanuka (Ladino) - Voice of the Turtle (Titanic 159)
Traditional Klezmer - Keshenev Bulgar - New England Conservatory Jewish Music Ensemble/Hankus Netsky (Rounder 3165)