Shchedryk

I know, I know, there are some things we just don't talk about at Christmas. If they come up, we gloss over them and move on. And I'm as guilty as anyone.

That being said, I really feel the need to mention something that's currently in the news every day, but it's probably not going to be part of your table conversation over the Holidays. It's swimming in controversy, it's highly political, and it raises the hackles of many people for various reasons.

I'm feeling this compulsion after learning something new about one of my favorite Christmas carols. Now, I should say that my list of favorites is quite long. I grew up in a family of carolers. We gathered with others and went door-to-door, singing, laughing and enjoying an occasional treat from appreciative residents.

I was also very active in my school choirs, particularly in the high school years. That means I know the bass parts to a lot of carols, both well-known and obscure. My siblings knew the tenor, alto and soprano parts, so those we sang to were treated to full harmony.

Okay, enough digression. This isn't really about me, it's about a song. If you recognize the title of this piece, you probably already know that this is about the song those of us here in the US (and some other countries, I'd guess) know as “Carol of the Bells”, or alternatively, “Ring, Christmas Bells”.

That song title up there is Ukrainian, and its melody is that which was adapted to the lyrics we're familiar with. And now you know the topic I was alluding to at the beginning of this piece. I'm not going to delve into my thoughts and feelings about what's going on there. I'm sure each reader will have their own and I'm not here to step on any toes or try to change any minds. I'm here to pay tribute to a tune we all know and introduce some readers to its origins.

Carol of the Bells has been performed thousands of times by hundreds of choirs. It's been performed by orchestras, and there are probably at least a dozen versions. An instrumental version by Manheim Steamroller is a popular one. You might hear it performed with hand bells on stage this time of year and that's pretty awesome.

Shchedryk is pretty awesome, too. The title means “Bountiful Evening” and it tells the story of a swallow singing inside a home, foretelling of prosperity in the upcoming Spring. It's not a Christmas song, but traditionally sung on the eve of their New Year celebrations. It's all about hope. I can't think of anything more fitting for Ukraine.

I've found a couple of great videos featuring the song, but I've chosen post the one of the Ukrainan Bel Canto Choir Vilnius you'll find at the top of this story.

The music for Carol of the Bells was written by a Ukrainain composer, Mykola Leontovych, in the early 1900s. I won't go into the full history of how it evolved, but if you're interested, Wikipedia has a lot of good information on the song and the composer. What I will say, is that it's been performed in just about every genre, including metal.

I'm pretty stoked to discover that one of my favorite Christmas songs is tied to a song of celebration written by proud, resilient people. I hope you've enjoyed learning about it, too.

Oh, and just in case you want to listen to it, here's a nice choral version:

Merry Christmas, Vocal and Vocal Creators!