‘Carol of the Bells’ – a haunting melody with a dark, beautiful history!
- larees24
- Dec 16, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Dec 16, 2025
🎄 Welcome, to ‘Christmas around the Piano’…a nostalgic musical journey!🎄
Day 15 - December 15, 2025
“Carol of the Bells” is based on the Ukrainian folk chant “Shchedryk”, arranged by composer Mykola Leontovych sometime before 1916. “Shchedryk” was not originally a Christmas song at all — it was a New Year’s carol sung to bring prosperity and good harvests. Its roots go back over a century, possibly even earlier in oral folk tradition.
The entire piece is built on a hypnotic four‑note ostinato — one of the most recognizable motifs in Christmas music today. This repeating pattern creates a sense of urgency and excitement. The piece is metrically bistable, meaning listeners can feel it in different meters (3/4 vs 6/8), giving it that magical, shifting energy.
In 1936, American composer Peter J. Wilhousky, who was of Ukrainian descent, wrote new English lyrics. He imagined the motif as bells ringing, which inspired the now‑famous Christmas imagery. His version transformed a Ukrainian New Year’s chant into a global Christmas classic.
In recent years, the song has become a symbol of Ukrainian cultural heritage, reminding the world of its origins and resilience.
Quick Facts!
🔔It became famous in the U.S. thanks to a choir tour. The Ukrainian National Chorus performed “Shchedryk” at Carnegie Hall in 1922, inspiring Wilhousky years later.
🔔The song’s composer, Leontovych, was assassinated. His tragic death in 1921 adds a haunting layer to the song’s legacy.
🔔Its rhythm is intentionally hypnotic. The repeating four‑note pattern mimics the sound of bells and creates a trance‑like effect.
🔔The original Ukrainian lyrics are about abundance, not bells — a swallow brings news of wealth to the household. It almost wasn’t a Christmas song. The original lyrics talk about a swallow predicting a prosperous spring — nothing about Christmas.
I do hope you have enjoyed reading about this carol, as much as I have enjoyed presenting this to you.
Thank you for joining me on this festive journey! Wishing you and your loved ones, a season filled with light, laughter, love, and of course, MUSIC! 🌟🎄
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Christmas cheer and good tidings to you!
Larissa
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