Carol of the Bells (Shchedryk) - Ukrainian Chorus Dumka

The "Carol of the Bells" or "Shchedryk" was performed by the Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York City on Dec. 13, 2009, directed by Vasyl Hrechynsky. This "shchedrivka" is based on a Ukrainian folk song that was arranged for choir by Mykola Leontovych ( Born 1877 - Murdered 1921) and then adapted by Peter J. Wilhousky as a "Carol of the Bells".

The melody was created in 1916 by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych (1877-1921) and titled "Shchedryk". Based on an old Ukrainian folk song, the original lyrics describe a swallow flying into a household to proclaim the plentiful year that the family will have. The song's title is derived from the Ukrainian word "shchedryi" which means "bountiful." The swallow is a herald of spring coming, possibly of pre-Christian origins. The folk melody was sung in many Ukrainian villages on Jan. 13 New Year's Eve on the Julian calendar usually by adolescent girls going house to house in celebration of the new year.

The choral work Shchedryk was first performed by students at Kiev University in December 1916. When American choir director and arranger Peter Wilhousky (1902-1978) heard Leontovich's choral work, it reminded him of bells; so he wrote new lyrics to convey that imagery for his choir. He published the new lyrics in 1936. Of Czech background, Wilhousky grew up singing in Russian-American choirs and made many translations and arrangements of Slavic music. The title chosen by him "Carol of the Bells" was harmonious with the old Slavic legend that at midnight the evening Jesus was born all the bells on earth started to sound of their own accord in his honor. Since then the song has become a popular Christmas tune especially in the US and Canada where it is also known as "Ukrainian Carol".

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Ukrainian Carol
• Carol of the Bells
• Dumka Chorus
• Leontovych
• Vasyl Hrechynsky
• Shchedryk
• Christmas Concert
• 2009
• Perth Amboy
• New Jersey
• Wilhousky

[Whistlejocket]

Dobre!



[lmbelton]

This song was originally a winter well-wishing song written by the Ukranian composer Mykola Leontovych. This song has nothing to do with bells at all. Peter Wilhousky wrote the lyrics we know today back in the late 1920s. The original song, Shchedryk, is about a bird that comes to farmer's windows and sings to them to let them know the winter would not destroy their farms but in spring they would reap a great harvest. It was performed for the first time in America at Carnegie Hall

[MichaelTrumpetPlayer]

@kranshteun Shchedryk = Щедрик

[AllUkrainianGirl]

yeah this is better than the copied and revised american english version!!!

[Sobole4ek]

@alexeykh yes, in ukraine it`s called Shchedryk)

[FJPanzer]

Amazing! Greatings from Brazil! Merry Xmas

[zhukov1721]

VIVA!!!!.....Ukraine....

[alexeykh]

@Saartje05 This is the Shchedrik (it says so in the title). These chicks sang a version of the Shchedrik that you like so much? This song has nothing to do with bells, by the way.

[Saartje05]

@alexeykh No idea, I've never heard of Shchedrik.

[alexeykh]

@Saartje05 They sang Shchedrik?