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Description
This was originally composed in September, 2002 for a personal family CD of various arrangements of “Carol of the Bells”, called "Barrel of the Kells". This newer version has been lightly rewritten, and recorded with GB’s Jampack 4 symphonic instruments.
This piece is my original almost-fugue-sounding arrangement of my favorite Ukranian “Christmas Carol”, Carol of the Bells, as if J.S. Bach had written it. Ingredients: Warmth, depth, complexity, eternal romance. Dedicated to my Belle, Jeri.
I had done some research for the CD project, and uncovered an intriguing origin of this melody. It is a very old Ukranian New Year’s carol, called “Shchedryk”. The song is not about bells or Christmas at all, but is instead a pre-Christian song about the end of Winter and the coming of Spring, heralded by a swallow flying up to visit a farmer. When it was translated to English in the 1930s for American choir performances, a completely different set of words was used, instead of translating the original text from Russian.
This piece is my original almost-fugue-sounding arrangement of my favorite Ukranian “Christmas Carol”, Carol of the Bells, as if J.S. Bach had written it. Ingredients: Warmth, depth, complexity, eternal romance. Dedicated to my Belle, Jeri.
I had done some research for the CD project, and uncovered an intriguing origin of this melody. It is a very old Ukranian New Year’s carol, called “Shchedryk”. The song is not about bells or Christmas at all, but is instead a pre-Christian song about the end of Winter and the coming of Spring, heralded by a swallow flying up to visit a farmer. When it was translated to English in the 1930s for American choir performances, a completely different set of words was used, instead of translating the original text from Russian.
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Lyrics
Here are the original Carol Lyrics translated to English, FYI:
Shchedrik, shchedrik, shchedrivochka
A swallow flew in
And started to sing
Calling out the head of the house
Come out, come out, head of the house,
Come look on your homestead
Over there the ewes have rolled
And the lambs are newly born
(2) Your animals are all well fed
You will receive much money.
Your wife is good looking
If you get no money, then you'll have chaff
But your wife is good looking.
Shchedryk, shchedryk, shchedrivochka
A swallow flew in
And started to sing
Calling out the head of the house,
"Come look on your homestead
Over there the ewes have rolled
And the lambs are newly born.
(2) Your animals are well fed
You will receive much money.
Your wife is good looking
If you get no money, then you'll have chaff
Your wife is good looking
Shchedryk, shchedryk, shchedrivochka
In flew a swallow.
Shchedrik, shchedrik, shchedrivochka
A swallow flew in
And started to sing
Calling out the head of the house
Come out, come out, head of the house,
Come look on your homestead
Over there the ewes have rolled
And the lambs are newly born
(2) Your animals are all well fed
You will receive much money.
Your wife is good looking
If you get no money, then you'll have chaff
But your wife is good looking.
Shchedryk, shchedryk, shchedrivochka
A swallow flew in
And started to sing
Calling out the head of the house,
"Come look on your homestead
Over there the ewes have rolled
And the lambs are newly born.
(2) Your animals are well fed
You will receive much money.
Your wife is good looking
If you get no money, then you'll have chaff
Your wife is good looking
Shchedryk, shchedryk, shchedrivochka
In flew a swallow.
urbnite
i think i may like these original lyrics better...
love the harpsichord! this could be an ad for JP4.
very nicely done... and i, for one, really appreciate your research!
did you try mixing your white russian with your coffee?