Carol of the bells: how Ukrainian generosity became a hit on American Christmas

Фото: Depositphotos

Ukrainian Christmas melody "Shchedryk" is better known to the world under the name Carol of the bells.

Everyone has heard it many times in films and commercials, but few know that the author of this music is the famous Ukrainian composer Nikolai Leontovich, who worked on it almost all his life, from 1901 to 1919, writes The ukrainian week.

A total of 5 versions of this tune have been released. For the first time, “Schedryk” in 1916 was performed by the choir of Kiev University. The song was based on the text of the Ukrainian shredrivka, which is traditionally sung during the winter holidays, wishing each other good and well-being.

Taking the simple melody of a simple Ukrainian carol as a basis, Leontovich turned it into a polyphony, developing and intensifying towards the end of the composition.

Nikolai Leontovich was born in the family of a village priest and learned to read from notes in the religious school, and also sang in the church choir. Leontovich invented arrangements for Ukrainian folk songs.

And although for his life, Leontovich will be both the conductor, and the composer, and the founder of several music schools, and one of the founders of the great Ukrainian group - the choir. Ropes - the world will remember him thanks to Shchedryk.

Ukrainian on NBC

October 5 1921 Leontovich’s “Schedryk” sounded for the first time in the USA - the Alexander Koshits Choir performed a composition at Carnegie Hall in New York. All concert tickets have been sold.

In 1936, Peter Wilgovsky, a Ukrainian-American who worked for NBC radio, created an English version of the words. He immediately registered the copyright for it, as if he foresaw the phenomenal success of the song. Thus, the Ukrainian “Shchedryk” became entrenched in American culture as Carol of the bells (“Carol bells”), because the sounds of the bells to Wilgovsky reminded this melody. And the popularity came because of the author's ability to bring the song to the American audience due to its influence on the NBC symphony orchestra, which took the song into the repertoire.

In 1955, it could already be heard in the Christmas edition of CBS. The melody began to be used by famous musicians in their Christmas albums. And now she has become “popular” at all.

Therefore "Shchedryk ”can be heard in the American comedy“ Home Alone ”.

Also versions of “Shchedryk” can be heard in the cartoons “The Simpsons”, “South Park”, the films “Harry Potter”, “Die Hard-2” and others.

Many DJs of the world have created their remixes for this melody. In their interpretations, the song was sung by performers and musical groups from different countries. And in December, 2014, the famous American lingerie brand, Victoria's Secret, released a Christmas advertisement in which models defile to the tune of Ukrainian Shchedryk.

We offer you several interpretations of this famous song.

This video has scored over 65 million views.

There is even a club version.

All the upcoming holidays!

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