New Year Greetings

One carol which seems to have been ubiquitous this Christmas is "The Carol Of The Bells" - but Liz had sent me a link showing it was originally a Ukrainian Folk Song for the New Year, called Shchedryk which means bountiful evening.  It is often called "the swallow"

The Ukrainian National Chorus sung it at Carnegie Hall in 1922, and Peter Wilhousky [an American of Ukrainian descent] wrote English lyrics based on the euphonius bell-like ostinato pattern of the tune.

Here is the beautiful version Liz sent me - with one young Ukrainian woman singing all four parts a capella

Another Ukrainian musician, Stepan Pasicznyk, has translated the words slightly differently. At this time, they seem especially poignant

Sing swallow sing, fortune you bring
Into the homes letting you in
Happy are those hearing your song
Life will be kind, life will be long.
Sing swallow sing, bounty you bring
Days longer now, leading to spring
Chaff of the wheat, ear of the corn
Nestling ewes, lambkin are born.
Sing swallow sing, praying you bring
News that a new time will begin
Peace in our land, hoping this year
Good will prevail, nothing to fear.
We lived off the land of milk and honey
Envy of the world, no need for money
Sing swallow sing, praying you bring
News that a new time will begin.
Sing swallow sing

Wherever you are, may God grant you a new year which brings love, joy, hope, and especially peace.