Without the Ukrainian song “Shchedryk” has not long been a Christmas and New Year holidays. And this applies not only to Ukraine but also to many countries of the world. But it is especially pleasant to us that the song was created by the Ukrainian composer Nikolai Leontovich. We present TOP-5 facts about the legendary “Shchedryk” that you should know
Fact № 1 Composer Leontovich created about 200 treatments of folk songs. Among them was the one who glorified the celebration of the new year by our distant ancestors. As they did in the time of paganism in the spring, when the birds return from the warm edges, the words of the first verse are understandable and logical: “The flea flew over”. The love for folk songs to a little Nicholas was instilled by her mother, who was well versed in folklore.
Fact № 2 The son of a priest who mastered the basics of musical art at the seminary, worked on the processing of “Shchedryk” for almost 20 years. Leontovich was inspired by the processing of folk pieces by Nikolai Lysenko. The author improved the first version of “Shchedryk”, rewriting the processing five times, as a result of which the melody has become already completely non-national, and academic. The authentic version was fairly simple, then Leontovich harmoniously incorporated polyphony, created a new part and decorated with new original nuances – this was the birth of a masterpiece.
Fact № 3 In honor of the great pride and on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the first performance of the song in 2016, the National Bank of Ukraine issued commemorative coins “Shchedryk”. The five-hryvnia denomination banknotes were made of “new silver” – an alloy of copper, nickel and zinc, called nickel silver, and silver – a par value of 20 hryvnias.
Fact № 4 In 1921, the song was performed from a large scene in New York. At the concert in the famous Carnegie Hall, America heard the melody of the legendary “Shchedryk” for the first time, and in 1936, Peter Vylgovskyi, an American of Ukrainian descent, created the English version.
Fact № 5 Outside of Ukraine, “Shchedryk” is known as “Carol of the Bells”. The song was very fond of the audience, because it so harmoniously creates a holiday New Year’s Eve Christmas atmosphere! Perhaps this is why she sounds in many films and series, for example, in the series South Park, Simpsons, Griffins, Mentalist, and Harry Potter, The House at Home, The Addams Family and others.
A tender and spiritual song is a symbol of the feast, it is loved and sung in many countries of the world. And known by her was Nikolai Leontovych – Ukrainian musician and composer.
Translated by Aliona Matushevich
