«Shchedryk» or «Carol of the Bells»

«Shchedryk» or «Carol of the Bells» – Christmas tune. It is the adaptation of Ukrainian folk songs of Christmas (schedrivky) «Shchedryk», which gained popularity in the processing of Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovich.

 

Photo from the Internet

For the first time «Shchedryk» choir performed the University of Kiev in 1916 – at a time, when the composer Leontovich was working in Kiev. And on Oct. 5, 1921 «Shchedryk» first performed in New York, during a concert at Carnegie Hall.

The song became so popular that in 1936 Peter Vilhovskyy, who worked for radio NBC, wrote the words to the English version of «Shchedryk». The song reminded Peter Vilhovskyy bells ringing, so he transferred that image in his English poems.

The song became so popular that in 1936 Peter Vilhovskyy, who worked for radio NBC, wrote the words to the English version of «Shchedryk». The song reminded Peter Vilhovskyy bells ringing, so he transferred that image in his English poems.