…the popular Christmas tune, “Carol of the Bells”, originated as a Ukrainian folk song?
2022 marked the one-hundredth anniversary of its United States premiere, where it debuted as “Shchedryk” at New York’s Carnegie Hall on October 5, 1922. The song means ‘generous evening’ and was penned by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych for the Ukrainian Republic Choir. According to folklore, it depicts a bird singing about a prosperous new year. Its association with Christmas began in 1936, when choral director Peter Wilhousky created an arrangement of “Shchedryk,” changing the lyrics to reflect Christmas sounds and become more accessible to English speakers.
And, in honor of MLA’s 2023 annual meeting, a bonus trivia item:
Did you know that the song ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ was written for the movie musical Meet Me in St. Louis?
Sung by actress Judy Garland, whose character tries to comfort a younger sibling as their family faces a move to New York City, the original lyrics were altered after Garland decided they were too depressing to sing to a child. Actor Tom Drake convinced producer Arthur Freed to have the composers (Ralph Blane Hunsecker and Hugh Martin) alter the lyrics rather than abandon the number altogether.
Source: “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” In The Christmas Encyclopedia, by William D. Crump. 3rd ed. McFarland, 2013
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