Home / Головна - Щедрик | Shchedryk

This website is devoted to one piece of Ukrainian legacy, which has become the world’s widely known asset: the Ukrainian Christmas song Shchedryk (Ukr: ‘Щедрик‘), which is known to the rest of the world as Carol of the Bells.

The history of this song: how it has been originally created, introduced to the USA, got its English lyrics, and became a widely known masterpiece.

If you want to learn how to sing or play Carol of the Bells, there’s also a selection of tutorials with notes/music sheets/tabs available under the Tutorials menu item.

And check out the numerous performances of the song: instrumental, orchestrated, a capella, jazz, rock, and metal arrangements, in original Ukrainian, and in English, and even in other languages too. Currently, there is a total of over 400 videos published featuring various styles and arrangements.

Цей вебсайт присвячений українській щедрівці “Щедрик, Щедрик, Щедрівочка“, яка стала всесвітньо відомим різдвяним хітом Carol of the Bells.

Тут ви можете дізнатися про історію створення та розповсюдження пісні, сумну долю її автора Миколи Леонтовича, знайти ноти та навчальні відео, щоб навчитися виконувати Щедрик/Carol of the Bells різними інструментами.

А ще — подивитися багато варіантів виконання цієї щедрівки: інструментальне, оркестрове, хорове, акапельне — українською, англійською, та навіть деякими іншими мовами.

Зараз на сайті є понад 400 відео у виконанні різних музикантів різними стилями, мовами (або суто інструментальне виконання).

History of the Carol of the Bells (Shchedryk):

Pre-Christian Times

Ukrainian peasants sing Shchedryk, a folk chant for the New Year, which at those times was celebrated in early spring. The song tells about a little swallow that flies into a peasant's household to wish them good luck and a bountiful year.

Pre-Christian Times

December 1877

Mykola Leontovych was born

The Ukrainian musician, a composer, and a choir conductor. He was born into a priest's family. He got his education in a Theological Seminary (Divinity School), where he mastered his musical skills and started making arrangements of Ukrainian folk chants.

December 1877

1901-1919

Five editions of Shchedryk

Mykola Leontovych had been working on arrangements of Shchedryk for many years and produced several editions: 1901 - 1902 — first edition; 1906 - 1906 — second edition; 1914 — third edition; 1916 — fourth edition; 1919 — fifth edition.

1901-1919

1916

First public performance

On 25 December 1916, the Choir of Kyiv University first performed Shchedryk. The conductor was Mykola Leontovych himself.

1916

1919-1921

Tour over Europe

The Ukrainian National Chorus conducted by Oleksander Koshetz performed an overwhelming tour over European cities: May 1919: Prague July 1919: Vienna October 1919: Bern November 1919: Paris January 8: Brussels January 8: Hague February 1920: London April 1920: Berlin October 1920: Warsaw January 1921: Barcelona

1919-1921

January 23, 1921

Death of Mykola Leontovych

On 23 January 1921, Mykola Leontovych was killed in his father's house by a Soviet state security agent.

January 23, 1921

October 5, 1922

First performance of Shchedryk in the USA

The Ukrainian National Chorus conducted by Oleksander Koshetz first performed Shchedryk in NYC at Carnegie Hall on October 5, 1922.

October 5, 1922

(Recorded on or between 26-09-1922 and 06-10-1922 in New York)

1922-1924

Tour over the Americas

The Ukrainian National Chorus conducted by Oleksander Koshetz performed Shchedryk in another 150 cities of the Americas, including: December 1922: Mexico June 1923: Buenos Aires July 1923: Montevideo September 1923: Rio de Janeiro February 1924: Habana

1922-1924

1936

Carol of the Bells evolves

In 1936, Peter J. Wilhousky, an American conductor of Ukrainian origin, wrote independent English lyrics (not a translation!) to the arrangement of Shchedryk melody by Mykola Leontovych. He called his piece Carol of the Bells.

1936

Video telling about Peter Wilhousky presenting Carol of the Bells at the Convention of the National Association of Teachers of Music in 1936

Second half of the 20th century

Popularity spreading

Carol of the Bells becomes a widely known Christmas song.

Second half of the 20th century

End of 2016

Shchedryk 100 challenge

In November 2016, Nazarii Davidovskii, a priest and a head of the female choir from Vinnytsya, Ukraine, initiated a Shchedryk 100 Challenge (#Щедрик100challenge) to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the first public performance of Shchedryk.

End of 2016

Video of initiating Shchedryk 100 Challenge in 2016

Nowadays

Shchedryk/Carol of the Bells enjoys numerous arrangements in various musical styles, covers, and remixes. Jazz and metal, rock and folk. Humble a capella choir signing in church, and grand concert shows.

Nowadays

How Ukrainian Shchedryk became a worldwide hit Carol of the Bells

Do you want to learn to play or sing Carol of the Bells? Check out the tutorials:

Якщо хочете навчитися грати або співати Щедрик, подивіться підборку відео з нотами та поясненнями:

Violin

7 Videos