Last Sunday in Kyiv, the Kyiv Philharmonic resonated with the sounds of Schedryk, better known in the Anglo-Saxon world as the Carol of the Bells. This traditional Ukrainian song, first performed in the city in 1916, reveals a rich and little-known history.
Composer Mykola Leontovytch transcribed this melody in the early 20th century, thereby anchoring Schedryk in Ukraine’s cultural heritage. This Christmas carol, synonymous with generosity, embodies the spirit and resilience of a nation. This year’s performance by the Ukrainian Radio Choir coincided with the celebration of Christmas on December 25, according to the Gregorian calendar, marking a symbolic shift from the Russian Orthodox Church and its traditional Julian calendar.
Photo by Florent Vergnes/AFP
The rendition of Schedryk in Kyiv echoes its performance at Carnegie Hall in New York in October 1922, a time when Ukraine, newly independent since 1918, was fighting for its sovereignty. Simon Petlioura, then President of the Ukrainian People’s Republic, launched a tour of the National Ukrainian Choir in Western Europe and the United States in 1919. This musical diplomacy project aimed to promote Ukrainian independence and raise Western awareness to its cause.
The international success of Schedryk was not experienced by its creator, Mykola Leontovytch, who was assassinated in 1921 by a Soviet agent. However, his work crossed borders and generations. In 1936, Peter Wilhousky, an American of Ukrainian descent, transformed Schedryk into the Carol of the Bells, giving it a new dimension and popularity.
The tragic fate of Simon Petlioura, assassinated in Paris in 1926 by Samuel Schwartzbard due to the anti-Jewish pogroms in Ukraine in 1919, reveals the complexities of Ukrainian history. These events highlight the struggles and triumphs of a nation in search of identity and independence.
Photo by Florent Vergnes/AFP
Since the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Ukraine has regained its independence but faces new challenges. Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the conflict in the country’s east, followed by a major invasion in 2022, testify to the perseverance of a nation still fighting for its territorial and cultural integrity.
Sunday’s concert at the Kyiv Philharmonic was more than a mere musical performance, it was an act of remembrance and cultural affirmation. Through Schedryk, Ukraine celebrates its history, culture and resilience, reminding the world of its cultural richness and indomitable spirit of freedom.
With AFP
Composer Mykola Leontovytch transcribed this melody in the early 20th century, thereby anchoring Schedryk in Ukraine’s cultural heritage. This Christmas carol, synonymous with generosity, embodies the spirit and resilience of a nation. This year’s performance by the Ukrainian Radio Choir coincided with the celebration of Christmas on December 25, according to the Gregorian calendar, marking a symbolic shift from the Russian Orthodox Church and its traditional Julian calendar.
Photo by Florent Vergnes/AFPThe rendition of Schedryk in Kyiv echoes its performance at Carnegie Hall in New York in October 1922, a time when Ukraine, newly independent since 1918, was fighting for its sovereignty. Simon Petlioura, then President of the Ukrainian People’s Republic, launched a tour of the National Ukrainian Choir in Western Europe and the United States in 1919. This musical diplomacy project aimed to promote Ukrainian independence and raise Western awareness to its cause.
The international success of Schedryk was not experienced by its creator, Mykola Leontovytch, who was assassinated in 1921 by a Soviet agent. However, his work crossed borders and generations. In 1936, Peter Wilhousky, an American of Ukrainian descent, transformed Schedryk into the Carol of the Bells, giving it a new dimension and popularity.
The tragic fate of Simon Petlioura, assassinated in Paris in 1926 by Samuel Schwartzbard due to the anti-Jewish pogroms in Ukraine in 1919, reveals the complexities of Ukrainian history. These events highlight the struggles and triumphs of a nation in search of identity and independence.
Photo by Florent Vergnes/AFPSince the collapse of the USSR in 1991, Ukraine has regained its independence but faces new challenges. Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the conflict in the country’s east, followed by a major invasion in 2022, testify to the perseverance of a nation still fighting for its territorial and cultural integrity.
Sunday’s concert at the Kyiv Philharmonic was more than a mere musical performance, it was an act of remembrance and cultural affirmation. Through Schedryk, Ukraine celebrates its history, culture and resilience, reminding the world of its cultural richness and indomitable spirit of freedom.
With AFP
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