Carol of the Bells was written in 1916 by a man named Mykola Leontovich. It was originally known as Shchedryk, and was of Ukrainian origin. It was written specifically for choirs, specifically choirs with all four parts (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass, although there are arrangements for only women or children), and it was based off of ancient Ukrainian folk tunes. The original lyrics are about a small bird that flew in the window of a family's home and told them about the great new year ahead.
(Here's a translation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shchedryk_(song))
Peter Wilhousky, a choral director, rewrote the lyrics in 1921, after hearing the original version in a Ukrainian concert. The tune was kept to make it sound like the pealing of the bells. This song was published and copyrighted amid the Great Depression.
Below I've included a link to a very classic version of it. In my opinion, the classic version of this song is the best one. It is really pretty.
Thank you for reading and have a Merry Christmas! I know that this is a time when people get caught up in what to buy, who to buy it for, what their favorite carol is, and the origin of that carol, but we need to remember that Christmas is not about getting gifts or singing songs. Christmas is about Jesus, and how He was born here on Earth, to die for us in order to pardon all of His people eternally for their sins. THAT is the true meaning of Christmas, not the amount of presents that are under our tree. We get gifts because Jesus became the perfect gift. Forgiveness. I loved Jessica's post on contentment. This is the time when we need to slow down and thank God for what He's given us, not least of all Himself.
Merry Christmas!
Sources:
Christmas Classics: The Story Behind 40 Favorite Carols By:David McLaughlan
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