Leontovych was born and raised in the Podolia region of the Russian Empire. He was educated as a priest in the Kamianets-Podilskyi Theological Seminary and later furthered his musical education at the Saint Petersburg Court Capella and private lessons with Boleslav Yavorsky. With the independence of the Ukrainian state in the 1917 revolution, Leontovych moved to Kiev where he worked at the Kiev Conservatory and the Mykola Lysenko Institute of Music and Drama. He is recognized for composing "Shchedryk" in 1904 (which premiered in 1916), known to the English speaking world as "Carol of the Bells" or as "Ring Christmas Bells." He is known as a martyr in the Eastern Orthodox Ukrainian Church, where he is also remembered for his liturgy, the first liturgy composed in the vernacular, specifically in the modern Ukrainian language. He was assassinated by a Soviet agent in 1921.
During his lifetime Leontovych's compositions and arrangements became popular with professional and amateur groups alike across Ukraine. Performances of his works in western Europe and North America earned him the nickname "the Ukrainian Bach" in France. Apart from his incredibly popular Shchedryk, Leontovych's music is performed primarily in Ukraine and the Ukrainian diaspora.
Carol of the Bells
Микола Дмитрович Леонтович Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
sweet silver bells,
all seem to say,
throw cares away.
Christmas is here,
bringing good cheer,
to young and old,
Ding dong ding dong
that is their song
with joyful ring
all caroling.
One seems to hear,
words of good cheer,
from everywhere,
filling the air.
Oh how they pound,
raising the sound,
o'er hill and dale,
telling their tale,
Gaily they ring,
while people sing,
songs of good cheer,
Christmas is here.
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,
On on they send,
on without end,
their joyful tone,
to every home.
Ding dong ding dong... dong
The song "Carol of the Bells" is a holiday classic that captures the spirit of Christmas. The first verse of the song describes the sound of sweet silver bells that seem to say "throw cares away" as Christmas is here bringing good cheer to everyone, both young and old, meek and the bold. The second verse describes the sound of the bells as they seem to fill the air with words of good cheer, and how they pound raising the sound over hill and dale telling their tale. The final verse describes how the bells gaily ring while people sing songs of good cheer, as Christmas is here, spreading the message of merriment far and wide.
Line by Line Meaning
Hark how the bells,
Listen to the sound of the bells
sweet silver bells,
The bells are pleasant and charming
all seem to say,
The bells appear to be conveying a message
throw cares away.
Let go of any worries or stress
Christmas is here,
The holiday season has arrived
bringing good cheer,
Bringing happiness and joy to others
to young and old,
To both the young and elderly
meek and the bold,
To the timid and the brave
Ding dong ding dong
The bells are ringing
that is their song
The sound of the bells is their melody
with joyful ring
The ring of the bells sounds cheerful
all caroling.
The sound of the bells creates a choir-like atmosphere
One seems to hear,
It feels as though one can hear
words of good cheer,
Positive and joyful words
from everywhere,
Coming from all directions
filling the air.
The atmosphere is filled with happiness
Oh how they pound,
The bells are ringing loudly and strongly
raising the sound,
Increasing the volume of the music
o'er hill and dale,
Across hills and valleys
telling their tale,
Expressing their story through their sound
Gaily they ring,
The bells ring in a lively and cheerful manner
while people sing,
As individuals sing along
songs of good cheer,
Happy and festive songs
Christmas is here.
The holiday season is upon us
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,
Wishing everyone a joyful and heartfelt holiday season
On on they send,
The sound of the bells continues on
on without end,
Continuing without conclusion
their joyful tone,
The sound of the bells brings happiness
to every home.
Reaching every household with their music
Ding dong ding dong... dong
The bells continue to ring joyfully
Writer(s): John Dwyer, Ronald Alan Mendelsohn, Mykola Leontovych, Peter J. Wilhousky
Contributed by Riley R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
selebrien
Дякую за чудову добірку!
І для обіцяної "збірки 100" можу додати ще кілька варіантів виконання:
Sissel Kyrkjebo, Plácido Domingo, Charles Aznavour - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvrJm8XmiuY
Bel Canto Choir Vilnius - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UmvUy1LziE
SIG AIR and Airgun Depot - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kujVg0-mA7E (дуже незвичне)
Ed Kihm - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VV_Ywzwnug - гітара звучить майже як бандура :)
аранжування для органу, David Christensen - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GI8MqbXz3Q
бачата-версія Trepacito - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mVgEbA-L8I
Natalie Cole - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5XseIlx2gI
Candice Boyd - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54ETuTCNSo4
Ivy Levan - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaVlYarxPxc
Kenny Rogers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uX6nSkaP3J8
Nox Arcana - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y883JoFyRv4
SÔNGE - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUcJs7Bsh0w
Órla Fallon - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpV_ku6wh5U
Doug Smith - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pK643WQ39Q
St. George's Chapel Choir - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FydDhuAYcOI&list=PLY_xY7fYMEqZcPbpnpebAhxDIvNVyWOHB
Jarrett Johnson, Alvin Chea, and Butterscotch - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYvvGsXtMtM
Falset - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_HSQwVMqaA
Jaime Rodriguez - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byyrPLHHxCg
LeAnn Rimes - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc1kD71IQuw
LeAnn Rimes (Rung Out Mix) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZWWPvlAW34
Emmy Rossum - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2k66JSgB50
Snow Globe Theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQ3cGK6tpjo
Enoch Fernando - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F-L8L6RHY8
Ruubez - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D47bbDvZDPI
Demeque (Rock Version) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHnhMUGXAao
4 Violins - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNbdBAUbre4
Martha Mooke - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9UJMVfI20c
Chloe Flower - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DLI_OxNCUM
Epic Version (Two Steps from Hell Style) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHe_i98krmo
Nightcore - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfyKr3yuq40
і ще хтось - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URugFjhXHrs
Backstages
Великолепная возможность познакомиться с разными исполнителями! Браво ❗
Людмила Евко
Геніально!!! Дякую!!! Браво!!!
Лідія
В захваті! 👍Браво!🇺🇦
Elfys Marys
Очень красиво
Бандура - моя душа!
Круто !! Молодець!!👏👏
Marianna Music Maker
🙏🏼 Спасибо, что распространяете! Как раз тоже залила вчера на ютюб свою мини-версию (да, попиарюсь, почему б нет😅)
Лада лотос
Щедрівочка - пісня Всесвіту!
Nata Strum
Чудова робота! Дякую и поширюю! 👍👏
Инна Женжуренко
Круто!) Спасибо)
Андрій Позненко
Завдяки таким людям Україну знає увесь світ