12/08/2016
Did you know that "Carol of the Bells" is a Ukrainian song "Shchedryk"? One of the most popular ringtones in the world has Ukrainian roots and is much loved by Ukrainian women.
"Shchedryk" is a Ukrainian Christmas folk song, gained worldwide popularity with the music of Nikolai Leontovich. In English, this song is known as «Carol of the Bells».
Composer Nikolai Leontovich worked on "Shchedryk" almost all his life. The first edition of music was written in 1901-1902, the second in 1906-1908, the third in 1914, the fourth in 1916, and finally, the fifth in 1919.
"Shchedryk" was first performed by the chorus of the Kiev University in 1916, at a time when Leontovich worked in Kiev, where he directed choirs, taught at the Music and Drama Institute of Mykola Lysenko. Then he worked in the music department of the Kiev Regional Committee and the Committee of the All-Ukrainian Art and headed the State Orchestra created by him.
The performance of his music brought him great success. The name of Leontovich became known in musical circles and among the general public.
October 5, 1921 "Shchedryk" was first performed overseas in a concert at Carnegie Hall in New York. The song became so popular that Peter Vygovskyy (according to other sources Peter Wilhousky) in 1936, who worked for NBC radio, wrote English version of the words of "Shchedryk". The song reminded him the chime, and he expressed this image in his poem.
Later the song was fixed in the musical culture of the Western countries under the name of Carol of the Bells. Till present American choirs, professional and amateur, sing this song as a carol for Christmas.
English version of the "Shchedryk» - “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!
