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"Carol of the Bells" is a popular Christmas carol, which is based on the Ukrainian New Year's song "Shchedryk". The music for the carol comes from the song written by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych in or before 1916; the English-language lyrics were written in 1936 by American composer of Ukrainian origin Peter Wilhousky.
Peter Joseph Wilhousky [a] (13 July 1902 – 4 January 1978) was an American composer, music educator, and choral conductor of Rusyn descent. [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] During his childhood he was part of the New York Russian Cathedral Boys Choir and gave a performance at the White House to President Woodrow Wilson . [ 4 ]
Although "Carol of the Bells" uses the melody from "Shchedryk", the lyrics of these two songs have nothing in common. The ostinato of the Ukrainian song suggested to Wilhousky the sound of ringing bells, so he wrote lyrics on that theme. Several other lyricists have written for the same melody, usually retaining Wilhousky's bell theme.
The English version, known as "Carol of the Bells", has been arranged over 150 times since 2004. [28] [1] The carol is one of the 25 most frequently performed Christmas songs of the 20th century. As listed by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), it ranked number 15. [29]
Alexander Koshetz (12 September 1875 – 21 September 1944) was a Ukrainian choral conductor, arranger, composer, ethnographer, writer, musicologist, and lecturer. He helped popularize Ukrainian music around the world. His name is sometimes transliterated as Oleksandr Koshyts (Ukrainian: Олександр Кошиць).
The Ukrainian carol most known in the Western world is the "Carol of the Bells", with English lyrics by the American composer of Ukrainian descent Peter J. Wilhousky, composed by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych as "Shchedryk", and premiered in December 1916 by a choral group made up of students at Kyiv University.
"Carol of the Bells/The Bells of Christmas" (Adrienne Anderson, Barry Manilow, Peter J. Wilhousky) - 4:48 "Joy to the World/Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" (Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin, Traditional) - 3:46 "We Wish You a Merry Christmas/It's Just Another New Year's Eve" (Barry Manilow, Marty Panzer, Traditional) - 4:47 [2]
"The Coventry Carol" (arranged by Bryceson Treharne) [3:32] Side 2 "Silent Night, Holy Night" (music by Franz Gruber, words by Josef Mohr) [3:15] "Carol Of The Bells" (arranged by Peter J. Wilhousky, written by M. Leontovich) [1:30] "Glory To God In The Highest" (written by Giovanni B. Pergolesi) [3:28]