Carol of the Bells
Encyclopedia
"Carol of the Bells" is the common English language title of a Christmas carol
of Ukrainian
origin, which has in recent years grown in popularity, particularly in English-speaking countries. The work was originally a choral miniature composition by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych
based on a folk motive and known in Ukrainian as "Shchedryk". Leontovych's composition was set to the words of an ancient Ukrainian pagan chant performed during the celebration of the pagan New Year, marked in April. A setting with a christian text, unrelated to the ritual pagan text also exists in Ukrainian. An English text was created by Peter J. Wilhousky who wrote lyrics entirely unrelated to the original ones. These lyrics are copyrighted, although the musical composition and original arrangement is not.
The song is recognized by a four-note ostinato
motif (see image to the right). It is a holiday favorite throughout the English-speaking world, having been arranged hundreds of times for different genres, styles of singing and settings. For example, it was been covered by artists and groups of many genres: classical
, jazz
, rock, and pop
. It has also been featured in films, television shows, and parodies.
The lyrics are not featured here because of the copyright by Peter J. Wilhousky.
The song is based on a traditional folk chant. It was associated with the coming New Year which, in pre-Christian Ukraine, was originally celebrated in April.
With the introduction of Christianity
to Ukraine, the celebration of the New Year was moved from April to January, and the holiday the chant originally was associated with, became the Feast of Epiphany (also known in Ukrainian as Shchedry vechir). The songs sung for this celebration are known as Schedrivky.
The original Ukrainian text tells the tale of a swallow flying into a household to proclaim the plentiful and bountiful year that the family will have. The title is derived from the Ukrainian word for "bountiful." The period for the birth of animals and the return of swallows to Ukraine however does not correspond to the current calendar season of winter.
In Ukraine, the carol is currently sung on the eve of the Julian New Year
.
. It was introduced to Western audiences by the Ukrainian National Chorus during its concert tour of Europe and the Americas, where it premiered in the United States on October 5, 1921 at Carnegie Hall
. A copyrighted English text was created by Peter Wilhousky in the 1930s, and since then it has been performed and sung worldwide during the Christmas season. Its initial popularity stemmed largely from Wilhousky's ability to perform it to a wide audience in his role as arranger for NBC radio's symphony orchestra. It would later be assisted to further popularity by featuring in television advertisements for champagne. An alternate English version ("Ring, Christmas Bells") featuring more Nativity
-based lyrics, written by Minna Louise Hohman in 1947, is also common.
, although non-Ukrainian and instrumental recordings neglect to incorporate this change of meter into their performances.
Leontovych originally created the piece as an assignment for a harmony course he was taking by correspondence to demonstrate the use of a device known as ostinato
. The original work was intended to be sung a cappella
by mixed 4-voice choir.
Two other settings of the composition were also created by Leontovych: one for women's choir (unaccompanied) and another for children's choir with piano accompaniment. These are rarely performed or recorded.
The four-note theme over a minor 3rd of the chant was used by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych
as an ostinato throughout the piece. Three different arrangements done by the composer exist of the piece, one with piano accompaniment, a version for children's choir. The most used version is the variant for mixed chorus. The arrangement for mixed voice choir a cappella
was popularized by the Ukrainian Republic Capella
, directed by Oleksander Koshetz
, when it toured the West after 1920.
Leontovych's composition, is characterised by the use of a four note motif as an ostinato
figure throughout the work. This ostinato figure is an ancient pagan Ukrainian
New Year's (originally celebrated in April) magical chant known in Ukrainian as "Shchedryk" [the Generous One].
The original traditional Ukrainian text used a device, known as hemiola
, in the rhythm (alternating the accents within each measure from 3/4 to 6/8 and back again). This device however is lost in the English translations and rarely is used in non-Ukrainian performances. The ostinato motif, a repeated four-note pattern within the range of a minor third is thought to be of prehistoric origins.
Christmas carol
A Christmas carol is a carol whose lyrics are on the theme of Christmas or the winter season in general and which are traditionally sung in the period before Christmas.-History:...
of Ukrainian
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
origin, which has in recent years grown in popularity, particularly in English-speaking countries. The work was originally a choral miniature composition by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych
Mykola Leontovych
Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych was a Ukrainian composer, choral conductor, priest, and teacher of international renown. His music was inspired by Mykola Lysenko and the Ukrainian nationalist music school, along with Kyrylo Stetsenko, Alexander Koshetz, and Yakiv Stepovy...
based on a folk motive and known in Ukrainian as "Shchedryk". Leontovych's composition was set to the words of an ancient Ukrainian pagan chant performed during the celebration of the pagan New Year, marked in April. A setting with a christian text, unrelated to the ritual pagan text also exists in Ukrainian. An English text was created by Peter J. Wilhousky who wrote lyrics entirely unrelated to the original ones. These lyrics are copyrighted, although the musical composition and original arrangement is not.
The song is recognized by a four-note ostinato
Ostinato
In music, an ostinato is a motif or phrase, which is persistently repeated in the same musical voice. An ostinato is always a succession of equal sounds, wherein each note always has the same weight or stress. The repeating idea may be a rhythmic pattern, part of a tune, or a complete melody in...
motif (see image to the right). It is a holiday favorite throughout the English-speaking world, having been arranged hundreds of times for different genres, styles of singing and settings. For example, it was been covered by artists and groups of many genres: classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, rock, and pop
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
. It has also been featured in films, television shows, and parodies.
The lyrics are not featured here because of the copyright by Peter J. Wilhousky.
Origins
With the introduction of Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
to Ukraine, the celebration of the New Year was moved from April to January, and the holiday the chant originally was associated with, became the Feast of Epiphany (also known in Ukrainian as Shchedry vechir). The songs sung for this celebration are known as Schedrivky.
The original Ukrainian text tells the tale of a swallow flying into a household to proclaim the plentiful and bountiful year that the family will have. The title is derived from the Ukrainian word for "bountiful." The period for the birth of animals and the return of swallows to Ukraine however does not correspond to the current calendar season of winter.
In Ukraine, the carol is currently sung on the eve of the Julian New Year
Julian calendar
The Julian calendar began in 45 BC as a reform of the Roman calendar by Julius Caesar. It was chosen after consultation with the astronomer Sosigenes of Alexandria and was probably designed to approximate the tropical year .The Julian calendar has a regular year of 365 days divided into 12 months...
.
Composition and translation
Although the first version of the composition was composed in 1904, it first premiered in December 1916 performed by a student choral group at Kiev UniversityKiev University
Taras Shevchenko University or officially the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv , colloquially known in Ukrainian as KNU is located in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. It is the third oldest university in Ukraine after the University of Lviv and Kharkiv University. Currently, its structure...
. It was introduced to Western audiences by the Ukrainian National Chorus during its concert tour of Europe and the Americas, where it premiered in the United States on October 5, 1921 at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
. A copyrighted English text was created by Peter Wilhousky in the 1930s, and since then it has been performed and sung worldwide during the Christmas season. Its initial popularity stemmed largely from Wilhousky's ability to perform it to a wide audience in his role as arranger for NBC radio's symphony orchestra. It would later be assisted to further popularity by featuring in television advertisements for champagne. An alternate English version ("Ring, Christmas Bells") featuring more Nativity
Nativity of Jesus
The Nativity of Jesus, or simply The Nativity, refers to the accounts of the birth of Jesus in two of the Canonical gospels and in various apocryphal texts....
-based lyrics, written by Minna Louise Hohman in 1947, is also common.
Musical analysis
The original Ukrainian version has internal linguistic accents within the text that employ a device known as hemiolaHemiola
In modern musical parlance, a hemiola is a metrical pattern in which two bars in simple triple time are articulated as if they were three bars in simple duple time...
, although non-Ukrainian and instrumental recordings neglect to incorporate this change of meter into their performances.
Leontovych originally created the piece as an assignment for a harmony course he was taking by correspondence to demonstrate the use of a device known as ostinato
Ostinato
In music, an ostinato is a motif or phrase, which is persistently repeated in the same musical voice. An ostinato is always a succession of equal sounds, wherein each note always has the same weight or stress. The repeating idea may be a rhythmic pattern, part of a tune, or a complete melody in...
. The original work was intended to be sung a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
by mixed 4-voice choir.
Two other settings of the composition were also created by Leontovych: one for women's choir (unaccompanied) and another for children's choir with piano accompaniment. These are rarely performed or recorded.
The four-note theme over a minor 3rd of the chant was used by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych
Mykola Leontovych
Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych was a Ukrainian composer, choral conductor, priest, and teacher of international renown. His music was inspired by Mykola Lysenko and the Ukrainian nationalist music school, along with Kyrylo Stetsenko, Alexander Koshetz, and Yakiv Stepovy...
as an ostinato throughout the piece. Three different arrangements done by the composer exist of the piece, one with piano accompaniment, a version for children's choir. The most used version is the variant for mixed chorus. The arrangement for mixed voice choir a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
was popularized by the Ukrainian Republic Capella
Ukrainian Republic Capella
The Ukrainian Republic Capella was a musical company during and after World War I which toured Europe and North America with the intent to promote Ukrainian culture abroad. The main sponsor of the Capella was Symon Petlura.-Background:During World War I, many events shook Eastern Europe...
, directed by Oleksander Koshetz
Oleksander Koshetz
Oleksander Koshetz was a Ukrainian choral conductor, arranger, composer, ethnographer, writer, musicologist, and lecturer. He helped popularize Ukrainian music around the world...
, when it toured the West after 1920.
Leontovych's composition, is characterised by the use of a four note motif as an ostinato
Ostinato
In music, an ostinato is a motif or phrase, which is persistently repeated in the same musical voice. An ostinato is always a succession of equal sounds, wherein each note always has the same weight or stress. The repeating idea may be a rhythmic pattern, part of a tune, or a complete melody in...
figure throughout the work. This ostinato figure is an ancient pagan Ukrainian
Music of Ukraine
Ukraine is a multi-ethnic Eastern European state situated north of the Black Sea, previously part of the Soviet Union. Many of its ethnic groups living within Ukraine have their own unique musical traditions and some have developed specific musical traditions in association with the land in which...
New Year's (originally celebrated in April) magical chant known in Ukrainian as "Shchedryk" [the Generous One].
The original traditional Ukrainian text used a device, known as hemiola
Hemiola
In modern musical parlance, a hemiola is a metrical pattern in which two bars in simple triple time are articulated as if they were three bars in simple duple time...
, in the rhythm (alternating the accents within each measure from 3/4 to 6/8 and back again). This device however is lost in the English translations and rarely is used in non-Ukrainian performances. The ostinato motif, a repeated four-note pattern within the range of a minor third is thought to be of prehistoric origins.
Covers
(Chronological growth in popularity)- (1947) The version with Minna Louise Hohman's 1947 lyrics has been recorded by the Ray Conniff Singers, Andy WilliamsAndy WilliamsHoward Andrew "Andy" Williams is an American singer who has recorded 18 Gold- and three Platinum-certified albums. He hosted The Andy Williams Show, a TV variety show, from 1962 to 1971, as well as numerous television specials, and owns his own theater, the Moon River Theatre in Branson, Missouri,...
and Julie AndrewsJulie AndrewsDame Julia Elizabeth Andrews, DBE is an English film and stage actress, singer, and author. She is the recipient of Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, BAFTA, People's Choice Award, Theatre World Award, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award honors...
with The Treorchy Male ChoirTreorchy Male ChoirTreorchy Male Voice Choir is a choir based in Treorchy in the Rhondda Valley, Wales, United Kingdom.Choirs have existed in the Rhondda Valley for more than a hundred and fifty years and Treorchy is one of the best known from the area...
, among others. - (1975) John FaheyJohn Fahey (musician)John Fahey was an American fingerstyle guitarist and composer who pioneered the steel-string acoustic guitar as a solo instrument. His style has been greatly influential and has been described as the foundation of American Primitivism, a term borrowed from painting and referring mainly to the...
, American musicologist, guitarist performed on Tahoma Records' 1975 album Christmas with John Fahey, Volume II [Tahoma4XF72745] - (1978) Richard CarpenterRichard Carpenter (musician)Richard Lynn Carpenter is an American pop musician, best known as one half of the brother/sister duo The Carpenters, along with his sister Karen Carpenter. He was a producer, arranger, pianist and keyboardist, and occasional lyricist, as well as joining with Karen on harmony...
played piano in an orchestral version arranged by Peter KnightPeter Knight (composer)Peter Knight was an English musical arranger, conductor and composer.-Career:Knight was born in Exmouth, Devon, England. He worked with Independent Television light entertainment stars from 'Spot The Tune' with Jackie Rae and Marion Ryan to the comedy series 'Home to Roost' ...
on the Carpenter's Christmas PortraitChristmas PortraitChristmas Portrait is the first Christmas album recorded by The Carpenters , originally released on October 13, 1978 ....
album released in October 1978. - (1980) George WinstonGeorge WinstonGeorge Winston is an American pianist who was born in Michigan, and grew up mainly in Miles City, Montana as well as Mississippi and Florida. He attended Stetson University in Deland, Florida and lives in Santa Cruz, California.-Background:...
played solo piano on his December album/CD in the late 1980s, acknowledging it as a traditional Ukrainian song. - (1983) David Benoit has recorded a jazz version of the song for his 1983 album Christmastime.
- (1988) Chip DavisChip DavisLouis F. "Chip" Davis, Jr. is the founder and leader of the music group Mannheim Steamroller.He also wrote the music for C.W. McCall, including the 1975 hit "Convoy".-Biography:...
and his band Mannheim SteamrollerMannheim SteamrollerMannheim Steamroller is an American music group founded by Chip Davis and Jackson Berkey, known primarily for its modern recordings of Christmas music. The group has sold 28 million albums in the U.S. alone.-Beginnings:...
recorded an original arrangement released on their album A Fresh Aire ChristmasA Fresh Aire ChristmasA Fresh Aire Christmas was the second Christmas music album released by new age musical group Mannheim Steamroller. The album was originally released in 1988....
in 1988. Recording label: American GramaphoneAmerican GramaphoneAmerican Gramaphone is an American record company, and was formed in 1974 by Chip Davis. It is best-known for releasing Davis' solo and Mannheim Steamroller albums...
. - (1993) Canadian musician and composer/songwriter David FosterDavid FosterDavid Walter Foster, OC, OBC , is a Canadian musician, record producer, composer, singer, songwriter, and arranger, noted for discovering singers such as Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, and Charice Pempengco; and for producing some of the most successful artists in the world, such as Céline Dion, Toni...
composed and performed his own version for the NBC Christmas special David Foster's Christmas Album on December 10, 1993 to promote The Christmas Album, both of which featured other Grammy Award winning performers. - (1994) FrenchFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
pop musicPop musicPop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
icon Charles AznavourCharles AznavourCharles Aznavour, OC is an Armenian-French singer, songwriter, actor, public activist and diplomat. Besides being one of France's most popular and enduring singers, he is also one of the best-known singers in the world...
, NorwegianNorwayNorway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
crossover sopranoSopranoA soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
Sissel KyrkjebøSissel KyrkjebøSissel Kyrkjebø , also simply known as Sissel, is a Norwegian soprano.Sissel is considered one of the world's top crossover sopranos. Sissel's musical style runs the gamut from pop recordings and folk songs, to classical vocals and operatic arias...
, and SpanishSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
operaOperaOpera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
tic tenorTenorThe tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
Plácido DomingoPlácido DomingoPlácido Domingo KBE , born José Plácido Domingo Embil, is a Spanish tenor and conductor known for his versatile and strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range...
recorded "Carol of the Bells" together at the third Christmas in Vienna concertChristmas in Vienna IIIChristmas in Vienna III is a 1995 Christmas album released by Spanish operatic tenor Plácido Domingo, French chanson and pop music star Charles Aznavour, and Norwegian crossover soprano Sissel Kyrkjebø on the Sony Classical label.It was recorded on December 22, 1994 at the Alte Winterreitschule in...
on December 22, 1994. - (1997) John TeshJohn TeshJohn Frank Tesh is an American pianist and composer of pop music, as well as a radio host and television presenter. His 10-year-old 'Intelligence for Your Life Radio Show' reaches 14.2 Million listeners/week, and is syndicated by Teshmedia on 400 stations in US, Canada, and the UK...
charted the song. Billboard Adult Contemporary survey, 1997. - (2001) Destiny's ChildDestiny's ChildDestiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
performed a slow-paced version of the song under the name "Opera of the Bells" (2001) - (2002) Dream TheaterDream TheaterDream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
have been known to quote the main theme of the song in certain live performances of "The Killing Hand", as can be heard on the "Hollow Years" single, and the Bucharest, Romania 7/4/02 official bootleg. - (2002) The rock band The CallingThe CallingThe Calling is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California, best known for their hit single, "Wherever You Will Go." The group formed in 2000 and have released two albums. They have been on an indefinite hiatus since 2005.-Band history:...
recorded a version available on the compilation Holiday 'Sounds of the Season (2002). - (2004) At holiday season concerts, the folk-rock group Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of DreamsGandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of DreamsGandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams is a Hudson Valley New York based band, which was founded in Sleepy Hollow in 1998. The band's music is a form of Folk rock and is sometimes described as "Hillbilly Pink Floyd," or "Punk Classical Hillbilly Floyd." Their latest album, The Great...
usually performs a version of their song "Slambovia" which is intertwined with the tune of "Carol of the Bells". This version was released on their live "Bootleg Series" album The Christmas Show 2004The Christmas Show 2004The Christmas Show 2004 is a live recording of Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams' December 17, 2004 Holiday show at the Towne Crier Cafe in Pawling, New York. This is a Bootleg Series album, which means that it is generally only sold at live shows, and only during the Holiday season...
. - (2006) Irish singer Moya BrennanMoya BrennanMoya Brennan, born Máire Ní Bhraonáin , also known as Máire Brennan , is an Irish folk singer, songwriter, harpist, and philanthropist who began performing professionally in 1970, when her family formed the band Clannad, and is now widely considered as the "First Lady of Celtic Music"...
recorded a version for her Celtic-themed Christmas album, An Irish ChristmasAn Irish ChristmasAn Irish Christmas is a music album by Irish musician Moya Brennan. According to Moya, the idea for the album first came to her some time ago: "I’ve been involved in number of other people’s Christmas projects in recent years," explains Moya, "but I wanted to capture a truly Celtic Christmas...
(2006) - (2007) Jennifer HudsonJennifer HudsonJennifer Kate Hudson is an American recording artist, actress and spokesperson. She came to prominence in 2004 as one of the finalists on the third season of American Idol coming in seventh place...
sang the song on Elmo's Christmas Countdown in December 2007 - In 2007, Emmy RossumEmmy RossumEmmanuelle Grey "Emmy" Rossum is an American actress and singer-songwriter. She first starred in a string of movies including Songcatcher , An American Rhapsody, and Passionada . However, it was her role in Mystic River that garnered her wider recognition...
recorded an Extended Play (EP) album of Christmas songs for Geffen RecordsGeffen RecordsGeffen Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operated as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-Beginnings:...
including an electronically enhanced pop version of the song with the English lyrics by Peter J. Wilhousky. - (2009)Family Force 5Family Force 5Family Force 5 is a Christian crunk rock band from Atlanta, Georgia. They consist of Solomon "Soul Glow Activatur" Olds, Jacob "Crouton" Olds, Joshua "Fatty" Olds, Nathan "Nadaddy" Currin, and Derek "Chap Stique" Mount...
's Christmas Pageant album (2009) features a version of this song. - (2009) Hayley WestenraHayley WestenraHayley Dee Westenra is a New Zealand soprano, classical crossover artist, songwriter and UNICEF Ambassador. Her first internationally released album, Pure, reached No. 1 on the UK classical charts in 2003 and has sold more than two million copies worldwide...
recorded the song for her album Winter MagicWinter Magic (Hayley Westenra album)Winter Magic is a Christmas album by Christchurch, New Zealand soprano Hayley Westenra. The album was called Christmas Magic in some territories and was released in Japan as Winter Magic: Fuyu No Kagayaki – Koibito Tachi No Pure Voice...
, released in 2009. She did her own voice accompaniments in parts of the song, rather than using a backing choir or other background singers. - (2010) Jessica SimpsonJessica SimpsonJessica Ann Simpson is an American recording artist, actress, television personality, and fashion designer whose rise to fame began in 1999. Since that time, Simpson has achieved many recording milestones, starred in several television shows, movies, and commercials, launched a line of hair and...
has also recorded a version of the song on her 2010 Christmas album Happy Christmas. - (2010) Pink MartiniPink MartiniPink Martini is a 13-member "little orchestra" from Portland, Oregon, formed in 1994 by pianist Thomas M. Lauderdale. They draw inspiration from music from all over the world – crossing genres of classical, jazz and old-fashioned pop.-History:...
recorded a version of "Shchedryk (Carol of the Bells)" for the album Joy to the World (2010) - (2010) Enter ShikariEnter ShikariEnter Shikari are a British band, that combine post-hardcore with elements of various electronic genres, formed in 2003 in St Albans, Hertfordshire. The band is named after a boat belonging to Roughton "Rou" Reynolds' uncle, and a character in a play which he wrote before forming the band, both of...
used the song to open their Christmas Eve show in Hatfield, UK on December 24, 2010. The song was cut off midway through, only to come back in with the band playing a dubstep remix. The recording is found on their Live from Planet EarthLive from Planet Earth (album)-Disc One:#"Live In Hatfield - UK December 2010"#"Live In Camden - UK July 2010"The listing on the back of the album incorrectly states the Camden show took place in June 2010, when the event was on the 26th July 2010, as shown on sites such as Last.fm" and Songkick"-Disc Two:#"'Fizzy Water & Spiky...
DVD/CD set.
- The band August Burns RedAugust Burns RedAugust Burns Red is an American metal band, from Manheim, Pennsylvania. Formed in 2003, the group began their first performances while a majority of the members were attending their senior year of high school, and soon began playing shows around Lancaster, before being signed to CI Records, and...
has recorded a version of the song and performs it at their Christmas show every year. - SavatageSavatageSavatage is an American heavy metal band founded by the brothers Jon and Criss Oliva in 1978 at Astro Skate in Tarpon Springs, Florida.-Early days :...
and side project The Trans-Siberian OrchestraTrans-Siberian OrchestraTrans-Siberian Orchestra is an American progressive metal band founded in 1993 by producer, composer, and lyricist Paul O'Neill, who brought together Jon Oliva and Al Pitrelli and keyboardist and co-producer Robert Kinkel to form the core of the creative team. Since then, TSO sold nearly 8...
have done a popular remake entitled "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo (12/24)Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24 is an instrumental medley of "Carol of the Bells" and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" first released on the Savatage album Dead Winter Dead in 1995 as "Christmas Eve ." It was re-released by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a side project of several Savatage members, on...
" that plays on many radio stations around Christmas.
Films and parodies
- John WilliamsJohn WilliamsJohn Towner Williams is an American composer, conductor, and pianist. In a career spanning almost six decades, he has composed some of the most recognizable film scores in the history of motion pictures, including the Star Wars saga, Jaws, Superman, the Indiana Jones films, E.T...
included this piece and made his own version of it on the Home AloneHome AloneHome Alone is a 1990 American Christmas comedy film written and produced by John Hughes and directed by Chris Columbus. The film stars Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister, an eight-year-old boy, who is mistakenly left behind when his family flies to Paris for their Christmas vacation...
soundtrack, along with other 18 entries, that consists of his original score and other Christmas songs. It was released by Sony Music Entertainment in 1990. - Mr. Mackey from South ParkSouth ParkSouth Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
sang a multi-part (overdubbed), a cappellaA cappellaA cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
version of the carol in the episode "Mr. Hankey's Christmas ClassicsMr. Hankey's Christmas Classics"Mr. Hankey's Christmas Classics" is episode 46 of Comedy Central's animated television series South Park. An album of comedic holiday songs, some featured in the episode, and others exclusive to the album, or featured in other episodes, was released the week prior to the episode's original air...
". In Mr. Mackey's version, he inserts his catchphrase by changing "All seem to say/Throw cares away" to "All seem to say/Ding dong m'kay." - GusterGusterGuster is an American alternative rock band from Boston, Massachusetts. Formed in 1991, the group is known for its live performances and humor, founding members Adam Gardner, Ryan Miller, and Brian Rosenworcel came about to begin practice sessions while attending Tufts University in Medford,...
parodied the song on the 2004 single "Carol of the MeowsCarol of the MeowsCarol of the Meows is a Guster single that is a parody of the Christmas song "Carol of the Bells". It was featured on The O.C. episode "The Chrismukkah That Almost Wasn't"...
", replacing the lyrics with simulated cat noises. - "Carol of the Bells" was parodied in two Family Guy episodes: first in "Perfect Castaway", as one of the featured songs on Peter's prospective Christmas album. In the episode "PeteroticaPeterotica"Peterotica" is the twenty-fourth episode from season four of Family Guy. The episode originally broadcast on April 23, 2006, and was written by Patrick Meighan and directed by Kurt Dumas. The title of the episode is a portmanteau between "Peter" and "Erotica". The plot follows Peter's brief career...
", Peter sings another parody of "Carol of the Bells" about working at Burger KingBurger KingBurger King, often abbreviated as BK, is a global chain of hamburger fast food restaurants headquartered in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The company began in 1953 as Insta-Burger King, a Jacksonville, Florida-based restaurant chain...
. This second parody was originally recorded by an artist known only as Billy for a 1993 Christmas album, and popularized by a 2002 FlashAdobe FlashAdobe Flash is a multimedia platform used to add animation, video, and interactivity to web pages. Flash is frequently used for advertisements, games and flash animations for broadcast...
cartoon.