Carol of the Bells (Shchedryk) - Original Ukrainian Song Feat. Marillion
This is a great gift from Ukrainians to the world...
«Shchedryk» (Carol of the Bells) was arranged by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych at the beginning of the 20th century. The song is based on the traditional Ukrainian folk chant welcoming the New Year (Shchedrivka). In 1921 the Ukrainian National Chorus sung the song in the United States to a sold-out audience at Carnegie Hall. Later Peter J. Wilhousky rearranged the melody for the orchestra and wrote the new lyrics in English thus creating «Carol of the Bells». The original «Shchedryk» by Leontovych was intended to be performed by four-voice choir.
A little story about this song:
In 1918-1919 was a short period in our history when was firstly announced independent Ukraine (UNR: Ukrainian Folk Republic), and Germany was the first country who admit it. In that period our country was divided between some political forces, and one of them - anticommunistic - was headed by Symon Petliura, who sent our choir, consisted mostly of members of Kyiv university choir "Dnipro", to Europe in 1919 to tell other peoples that we are separate nation with our own traditions and culture. But earlier in 1916 that choir firstly performed that song with Leontovych´ music version written in the beginning of XX century (lyric was folk and very ancient). The composer was later killed by russian chekist, but it is another story. In the USA Shchedryk was firstly performed in 1921 with the same choir who emigrated there and never returned to Ukraine because it finished her existence for long decades because of Soviet Union. This song became popular in 17 countries and only in 1936 was covered as "Carol of the bells" by P. Wilhousky, who was an american with Ukrainian roots. Some years ago it was found the vinyl disk with earliest English version of this song, it called "Bluebirds" and close by meaning to the original. It was presented in Kamyanets-Podilsky, where Petliura had his government and where he sent the choir with mission to Europe from. And it was sung again with modern "Dnipro" choir.
Lyrics:
Shchedryk, shchedryk, shchedrivochka
Here flew the swallow from afar
Started to sing lively and loud
Asking the master to come out
Come here, oh come, master – it’s time
In the sheepfold wonders to find
Your lovely sheep have given birth
To little lambs of great worth
All of your wares are very fine
Coin you will have in a big pile
All of your wares are very fine
Coin you will have in a big pile
You have a wife
Fair as a dove
If not the coin, then the chaff
You have a wife fair as a dove
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