The melody of “Shchedryk” is known throughout the world as “Coral of the Bells”. But outside Ukraine, few people know that it was written by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych. The old folk song, which he arranged at the beginning of the 20th century, became much more than just a song—it became a symbol of Christmas. The word Shchedrivka refers to a traditional Ukrainian New Year’s song sung to the inhabitants with wishes for happiness, prosperity and a good harvest.
With tenderness and precision
Mykola Leontovych was born on 13 December 1877 in the village of Monastyrok in the Vinnytsia region in the west of the country, the son of an Orthodox priest. He was a teacher and choir director and worked with village singers throughout his life. He collected folk melodies and arranged them with rare tenderness and precision. His music was a philosophy of sound in which even simple melodies took on an almost ritualistic power. Leontovych composed “Shchedryk” in 1901 and completed the final version in 1916. At a time when Ukraine was fighting for its independence from the Russian Empire, this song sounded like a bright symbol of rebirth—pure, kind and generous.
Shot dead in his parents’house
But the composer’s fate was tragic. Mykola Leontovych was treacherously murdered on the night of 23 January 1921 in his parents’ house, where he had returned after the turbulent years of revolution to find peace. A man posing as an employee of the district administration knocked on the door. The family let him in, entertained him and gave him accommodation. In the morning, while everyone was asleep, he shot the composer and robbed the house. The perpetrator was an agent of the Soviet secret police, the Cheka (later the NKVD). Thus, a man who had created music of light was killed. Leontovych was only 43 years old.
A song goes around the world
But Leontovych’s music did not fall silent. His friend and companion, the conductor Oleksandr Koshyts, took over the leadership of the Ukrainian National Orchestra, which had been founded by decision of the government of the Ukrainian People’s Republic. From 1919 onwards, the orchestra toured Europe and later reached the USA, Canada and South America, singing “Shchedryk” in the world’s most famous concert halls. At home, bloody “red terror” reigned. It was impossible for the musicians to return. But it was precisely through these people that Leontovych’s music outlived its creator.
Like bells calling to the festival
On 5 October 1922, “Shchedryk” was performed for the first time before an American audience at Carnegie Hall in New York. The melody captivated listeners with its rhythm, which is based on just four notes, like bells ringing for a celebration. In 1936, American composer Peter Wilhousky wrote English lyrics for it. Since then, the song has been known as “Carol of the Bells”. But behind this famous Christmas melody there is more than just bells and gifts. It embodies an ancient Ukrainian tradition of “Shchedruvannya”—wishing people good, peace and prosperity. And every time the world hears “Carol of the Bells”, it is actually hearing the Ukrainian “Shchedryk”—a song born in turbulent times, out of a love for life and a belief that the light will always return.
Audio samples:
Ukrainian National Chorus—Shchedryk (1922, New York) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXQ15PyKM-M
The Ukrainian National Band “Dumka”—“Shchedryk” (1957, Kyiv) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KP9AnlPBMEU
“Carol of the Bells”—André Rieu, Anna Reker and 400 Brass Players: “Shchedryk” (November 2025, Netherlands) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OUJLYLtqSs
About the history of the song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk6GZe15FRY
By Oleksandr Maishev
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