| "Carol of the Bells" | |
|---|---|
| Christmas carol by Mykola Leontovych | |
 The four-note motif (shown four times) | |
| Text | by Peter J. Wilhousky |
| Based on | "Shchedryk" |
| Composed | 1919 |
"Carol of the Bells" is a popular Christmas carol, which is based on the Ukrainian New Year's song "Shchedryk." The music for the carol comes from the song written by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych in 1914; the English-language lyrics were written in 1936 by Peter Wilhousky.[1][2]
The music is based on a four-note ostinato and is in 3
4 time signature, with the B-flat bell pealing in 6
8 time. The carol is metrically bistable, and a listener can focus on either measure or switch between them. It has been adapted for musical genres that include classical, heavy metal, jazz, country music, rock, trap, and pop. The music has featured in films, and television shows.
- ^ Korchova, Olena (December 17, 2012). "Carol of the Bells: Back to the Origins". The Ukrainian Week. Archived from the original on October 28, 2018.
- ^ Malpas, Anna (December 24, 2023). "How Ukraine independence song became a Christmas classic". AFP.