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Carol of the Bells/Shchedryk
by   jgurner
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Last Christmas song for the year (probably), I promise.

Back in 2011 on MacJams of old, I started posting under the moniker Abraxas for a time. I used it to post some of my more experimental (at least for me) stuff. That included playing around a little with one of my all-time favorite holiday tunes Carol of the Bells, or Ukrainian Bell Carol or Shchedryk.

Shchedryk was originally a New Year's song by Mykola Leontovych about a swallow flying into a home on New Years and declaring the family will have a bountiful year. The English Lyrics, Carol of the Bells, were written later by Peter J. Wilhousky.

In this version, I used the Wilhousky lyrics and added new lyrics loosely based on the original story in Shchedryk. Hopefully I didn't go too awry with the lyrics.

This has been one of my favorite holiday melodies for a very long time, even before I looked into the history of the song. The melody is simple and repetitive, but it's elegant in its simplicity. Even stripped of its lyrics, which was how I became familiar with it at first, through concert band renditions and handbell choir performances.

This is the original take of the song I did back in 2011. I pulled it up and brushed it off, tweaking a few things here and there, but other than that, it's as I first recorded it.

Hope you enjoy.
Released: 18-Dec-2023
Category: Holiday
Application: Logic Pro
File type: mp3
File size: 7.2 Mb
Plays: 7
Downloads: 0
Weekly plays: 7
Weekly downloads: 0
License: No derivative works allowed
Lyrics
Carol of the Bells/
Shchedryk

Carol of the Bells Lyrics by Peter J. Wilhousky

Original Lyrics for  Shchedryk, based on Traditional Ukrainian Folk Tales
©2011 Joseph Gurner

Hark how the bells,
sweet silver bells,
all seem to say,
throw cares away.

Christmas is here,
bringing good cheer,
to young and old,
meek and the bold,

Ding dong ding dong
that is their song
with joyful ring
all caroling.

One seems to hear,
words of good cheer,
from everywhere,
filling the air.

Oh how they pound,
raising the sound,
o'er hill and dale,
telling their tale,

Gaily they ring,
while people sing,
songs of good cheer,
Christmas is here.

Merry, merry, merry, merry
 Christmas,
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,

On on they send,
on without end,
their joyful tone,
to every home.

Ding dong ding dong... dong!



Welcome little swallow
into our winter home
rest your wings by our fire
on this new yearÕs day

Come and sit
at our table
Share our bounty
on this new year

The ewes are nestling
the lambs have been born
our fields were heavy
with grain

My beautiful wife
my healthy young son
a prosperous
season for all

So when you are warmed
then fly, little bird
and bring us good fortune
next year
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Comments
Ramonaji
artist
Twas lovely!
Latest song: Exposure
6 months ago
KennethLavrsen
artist
What a great modern way to do old Christmas carols. I love it
6 months ago
zincshed
artist
A modern take on this classic - very appealing sounds for the vocals and instrumentation
6 months ago
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