Shchedryk (from the Ukrainian word shchedryi; "Bountiful Evening") is a Ukrainian shchedrivka, or New Year's carol. It was arranged by composer and school teacher Mykola Leontovych in 1916, and tells a story of a swallow flying into a household to sing of wealth that will come with the following spring. Shchedryk was originally sung on the night of January 13 (Old Style), {in today's new system the date would be January 25th} which is Shchedry Vechir (Ukrainian:
, 'Bountiful Evening') to Ukrainians, New Year's Eve by the Julian Calendar.
Peter J. Wilhousky
Born: July 06 1902 – Passaic, New Jersey
Died: January 1978 – Westport, Fairfield, Ct
Shchedryk was later adapted to an English Christmas carol, Carol of the Bells, by Peter J. Wilhousky following a performance of the original song by Alexander Koshetz's Ukrainian National Chorus at Carnegie Hall on October 5, 1921. Wilhousky copyrighted and published his new lyrics (which were not based on the Ukrainian lyrics) in 1936, and the song became popular in the United States, where it became strongly associated with Christmas.
Origins and translation:
The song is based on a traditional folk chant whose language was thought to have magical properties. The original traditional Ukrainian text used a device known as hemiola in the rhythm. The chant based on an ostinato 4 note pattern within the range of a minor third is thought to be of prehistoric origins and was associated with the coming New Year which in Ukraine before the introduction of Christianity was originally celebrated in April.
With the introduction of Christianity to Ukraine, the celebration of the New Year was moved from April to January and the holiday the chant describes became associated with the Feast of Epiphany also known in Ukrainian as Shchedry vechir. The songs sung for this celebration are known as Schedrivky.
The original Ukrainian text tells the tale of a swallow flying into a household to proclaim the plentiful and bountiful year that the family will have. The title is derived from the Ukrainian word for "bountiful."
In Ukraine, the carol is currently sung on the eve of the Julian New Year (January 13th).
The 4 note melody over a minor 3rd of the chant was used by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych as an ostinato theme in a number of arrangements he made. The arrangement for mixed voice choir a cappella {A cappella – (Italian for In The Manner of The Church) music is solo or group vocal or singing without instrumental sound} was popularized by the Ukrainian Republic Capella directed by Oleksander Koshetz when it toured the West after 1920.
Comparison of Lyrics:
Although Carol of the Bells and Shchedryk share the same melody, the meanings of both their lyrics are unrelated. Compare the lyrics of Shchedryk with the lyrics of Carol of the Bells.
The above Lyric's is actually an image of the Lyrics Because the actual (Ukrainian Lyrics) will show up as ???.
The (Ukrainian Lyrics) were found on:
Wikipedia
Transliteration:(BGN/PCGN)
The Romanization or Latinization of Ukrainian is the representation of the Ukrainian language using Latin letters.
English translation:
Shchedryk, shchedryk, a shchedrivka [New Year's carol];
A little swallow flew [into the household]
and started to twitter,
to summon the master:
"Come out, come out, O master [of the household],
look at the sheep pen,
there the ewes are nestling
and the lambkin have been born
Your goods [livestock] are great,
you will have a lot of money, [by selling them]
if not money, then chaff: [from all the grain you will harvest]
you have a dark-eyebrowed [beautiful] wife."
Shchedryk, shchedryk, a shchedrivka,
A little swallow flew. |
The first of the English language lyrics below were written in 1936 by Peter J. Wilhousky. The song reminded Wilhousky of beautiful ringing bells and he captured that imagery in his lyrics.
Lyrics to Carol of the Bells:
Hark how the bells,
sweet silver bells,
all seem to say,
throw cares away
Christmas is here,
bringing good cheer,
to young and old,
meek and the bold,
Ding dong ding dong
that is their song
with joyful ring
all caroling
One seems to hear
words of good cheer
from everywhere
filling the air
Oh how they pound,
raising the sound,
o'er hill and dale,
telling their tale,
Gaily they ring
while people sing
songs of good cheer,
Christmas is here,
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,
On on they send,
on without end,
their joyful tone
to every home
Ding dong ding... dong! |
The choral work Shchedryk was first performed by students at Kiev University in December 1916. When American choir director and arranger Peter Wilhousky 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 United States and Canada where it is also known as "Ukrainian Carol".
Below are a few music links I made. It is a very small list of music, actually they are a few different versions of the song "Carol of The Bells" also known as the "Ukrainian Bell Carol" and or "Shchedryk" enjoy. If you are using the (ie Browser) Internet Explorer Browser you can right click on the Hyperlink and than left click on the {Save target As} for FireFox Browser just right click and {Save Link As}to save the music to your computer..
Different interpretations of the same melody:
Tanya Tsikhotska – Shchedryk (Ukrainian)
Kiev Chamber Choir – Shchedryk (Ukrainian)
Columbia Boys Choir – Ukrainian Bell Carol (English)
A Capella – Carol of the Bells (English)
Vienna Boys Choir – Ukrainian Bell Carol (English)
Choir Irkutsk University – Shchedryk (Ukrainian)
Kammerchor Michaelstein / Sebastian Goring – Germany – Shchedryk (Ukrainian)
Mormon Youth Chorus & Symphony – Carol of the Bells {Music}
Brian Harris – Ukrainian Bell Carol {Music}
Mitya Kuznetsov – Shchedryk (Ukrainian)
Mannheim Steamroller – Carol of the Bells (Ukrainian)
Assia Akhat (violin) – Shchedryk (Ukrainian)
