This is the original recording of Carol of the Bells. It is in Ukrainian originally titled Shchedryk. The Ukrainian National Chorus, under the direction of Dr. Oleksander Koshyts, recorded Shchedryk along with a selection of other Ukrainian songs on the Brunswick record label in 1922 shortly after arriving in the USA from Ukraine. The Carol of the Bells was written by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych around 1914. The English version did not appear until the 1930s. The Ukrainian National Chorus was organized by the short-lived Ukrainian government around 1918 to tour and promote Ukrainian culture. The chorus had a successful European tour before they headed to the USA with another successful tour in North America including Mexico. By 1922, Ukraine had been overrun by communist Russia and the chorus members had to stay in North America. This was another blow to Ukrainian culture. By the mid 1920s, the chorus was disbanded since the choir members moved to various cities in the USA and Canada to make a living and continue with their lives.
This channel is nonprofit and not monetized. Let me know if there is interest in the entire 1922 Ukrainian National Chorus catalog of songs to be posted. See the other rare Ukrainian audio recordings on this channel - more to come.
22 дек 2023
