The Eight Chanukah Candles, for piano

 The Eight Chanukah Candles For a successful Chanukah celebration one requires not just Latkes ('Kartoffelpuffer', fried potato pancakes), Sufganiot (fried doughnuts) or the traditional games of dice, for above all it is the old stories and their new interpretations which mark this 8-day Jewish festival. So one recalls the re-dedication of the Second Jewish Temple in Jerusalem in the Jewish year 3597 (164 BCE) following the successful Maccabean revolt against the Hellenised Jews and the Seleucids, as it is described in the First Book of Maccabees, by Flavius Josephus and in the Talmud. The Jews had taken refuge in the recaptured Temple and miraculously a single jar of oil sufficed to keep the ritual lamp in the Temple burning for the full eight days – a Miracle and Light – both these are therefore central themes of this festival. On each day of the Chanukah festival a new candle is lit on the evening before. 

At the end of 2021 Max Doehlemann, inspired by his acquaintanceship with the Berlin pianist Markus Syperek, composed 'The Eight Chanukah Candles' as a musical contribution to the Chanukah celebrations. Each of these 'musical candles' retells its own Chanukah-related story through music. The pieces are humorous but show also deeper reflective and more expressive sides.  

The 'Chanukah Candles' comprise: Candle No. 1. 'Tin Soldiers'. - This was written after the composer had seen some old Jewish tin soldiers in a museum, representing the Maccabees. Chanukah concerns the fight of the Hebrews against the Greeks for self-determination and so includes military themes of 2,000 years ago. Tin soldiers as a form of toy played with by children combine the two concepts of commemoration of a military victory and a festival for children.  

Candle No. 2. 'From Ancient Times'. - The title is self-explanatory. The Lydian melodic line also represents a Hellenistic perspective, for the Maccabee saga was actually (and ironically) originally written and transmitted in Greek and only later translated retroactively into Hebrew. 

Candle No. 3. 'Nissim'. (Hebrew for 'Miracles') - One of the central themes of Chanukah is that of Miracles. The composition attempts to reflect these rather astounding miraculous events in a mildly humorous tongue-in-cheek manner. 

Candle No. 4. 'Matityahu Chases Enemies Away' - The mounted leader of the Maccabbees leads his men into a battle and the enemies flee as quickly as they can.  

Candle No. 5. 'Sevivon' – Hebrew for a Spinning Top. Traditionally on Chanukah one plays children's games involving a spinning top. Here in the music one hears in the shaded light the top dancing.  

Candle No. 6. 'Ottoman Latkes' - In this piece the composer creates a Jewish-Oriental mood. This type of Sephardic melody originates in the Ottoman region, hence the jokey title 'Ottoman Latkes' (these being the traditional potato pancakes which are enthusiastically consumed at Chanukah.) 

Candle No. 7. 'Thoughtful in the Lights of Chanukah' - This piece is rather reflective; In the glow of the Chanukah lights one can muse upon a wide variety of thoughts, some of them deeply serious.  

Candle No. 8. 'Maccabee Charleston'. A short victory dance of the victorious Maccabeans forms the witty conclusion.  

The entire Cycle would last around 18 minutes if played together as a performance. In terms of the degrees of difficulty it is intended mainly for professional pianists but is perhaps also suitable for advanced piano students. The Cycle is dedicated to Markus Syperek.