Shchedryk

Originally derived from a Ukranian folk tune, Mykola Leontovich composed "Shchedryk" for choir in 1916. It depicts a swallow arriving to tell the household of the arrival of spring and good fortune for the next year. The original folk song was often sung as a "well-wishing" song at the new year (January 13th on the Julian calendar). The song is often referred to as the "Ukranian Bell Carol." After the song was performed in the United States in 1921, a prominent choir director wrote new lyrics that reflected a Christmas scene, inspired by the bell-like tones in the song. This version has remained popular in the U.S.