Ukrainian Bell Carol

Mykola Leontovych

Mykola Leontovych (arr. Richard Saucedo)

The melody of this work is also known as Carol of the Bells.

General Info

Year: 1904[1914?] / 2004
Duration: c. 1:45
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $55.00   |   Score Only (print) - $5.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II
Trombone I-II
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:

• Bass Drum
• Bells
• Crash Cymbals
• Snare Drum
• Suspended Cymbal
• Triangle
• Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Carol of the Bells is a popular Christmas carol composed by Mykola Leontovych in 1904 with lyrics by Peter J. Wilhousky. The song is based on a folk chant known in Ukrainian as Shchedryk. It was associated with the coming new year, which, in pre-Christian Ukraine, was originally celebrated with the coming of spring in April. (This explains why the original Ukrainian text speaks about a swallow returning and lambs being born.)

The melody 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.

- Program Note from Wikipedia

Sources vary on date of composition, 1904 or 1914.

Commercial Discography

• Audio CD: The Music of Richard Saucedo Volume 2

Media

• Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• Gustavus Adolphus College (St. Peter, Minn.) Bands (Heidi Johanna Miller, conductor) - 8 December 2020
• Atascadero (Calif.) Community Band (Randy Schwalbe, conductor) – 9 December 2018
• Arkansas State University (Jonesboro) Wind Ensemble (Timothy Oliver, conductor) – 2 December 2018
• Lemont (Ill.) High School Band (Matt Doherty, conductor) – 4 December 2017
• University of South Alabama (Mobile) Symphony Band (Jason Rinehart, conductor) – 7 November 2016
• Atascadero (Calif.) Community Band (Carlos Gama, Jr., conductor) – 13 December 2015
• South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble (Linwood, N.J.) (Keith Hodgson, conductor) – 10 December 2012

Works for Winds by this Composer

Adaptable Music

• Asian Folk Rhapsody (Flex instrumentation) (2001/2017)
• Fanfare for the Third Planet (Flex instrumentation) (2004/2006/2012)
• Into the Clouds! (Flex instrumentation) (2007/2016)
• (Risk) Everything for a Dream (Flex instrumentation) (2015/2020)
• Ukrainian Bell Carol (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1904/2004/2018)

All Wind Works

• Along an English Countryside (2012)
• American Barndance (2009)
• Angelic Festival
• Antares (1999)
• As Tears Fall on Dawn's New Light
• Asian Folk Rhapsody (Flex instrumentation) (2001/2017)
• At the End of the Rainbow (2016)
• Awakening Hills (2003)
• Beyond the Clouds and Into the Heavens! (2013)
• A Brass Thing (as arranger) (2005/2007)
• Cambrian Explosion (2010)
• Caravan (as arranger) (1937/2000)
• Carol of the Night (2003)
• Celtic Christmas, A
• Chorale and Presto
• Christmas Festival Overture
• Confluence (2010)
• Copacabana (as arranger) (1978/2002)
• Dashing Through the Snow (2005)
• Dreamsong (2006)
• Earth, Wind and Fire in Concert (as arranger) (1996)
• Fanfare and Call to the Post (2014)
• Fanfare for Justice (2018)
• Fanfare for the Third Planet (2004)
• Fanfare for the Third Planet (Flex instrumentation) (2004/2006/2012)
• Fantasy on a Theme by Samuel Barber (as arranger) (1931/2005)
• Fantasy on an Irish Air
• Fantasy on "Deck the Halls" (2019)
• Fantasy on Keystone Chorale
• Finale to "Symphony No 3" (as arranger)
• Fives Prevail!, The
• Flash in the Pan! (2014)
• Flight of the Thunderbird (2004)
• Forever Holding Close the Memories (2009)
• Full Tilt (2008)
• Georgian Court Fanfare
• Groovee! (2010)
• Heroes Near and Far (2016)
• Hymn for the Cream and Crimson
• If It Were Easy... (2020)
• In Perfect Silence, I Often Gaze at the New Stars (2012)
• Into the Clouds! (2007)
• Into the Clouds! (Flex instrumentation) (2007/2016)
• An Irish Party in Third Class (as arranger) (1999)
• Jubilancelation! (2017)
• Looking Past the Shadows (2009)
• The Lullaby in the Mirror (2017)
• Nightsong (2003)
• Noel
• Ode to Greensleeves
• Of Gale Force Winds
• On to the Next Frontier (2020)
• Quest for the Mountain Top
• Persistence (2004)
• Pulsation (2009)
• Regal Fanfare
• Rendezvous With the Other Side
• Rhythm Danse (2007)
• (Risk) Everything for a Dream (2015)
• (Risk) Everything for a Dream (Flex instrumentation) (2015/2020)
• Rondo for Band
• Shooting Stars (2011)
• Short Ride in a Fast Machine (as arranger) (1986/2006)
• Sky Dance (2010)
• Snow Caps (2004)
• Song and Dance
• Song of the Gandy Dancers (2007)
• Spirit of the Falcon
• Spy Ring (2017)
• Sure on this Shining Night (as arranger)
• Symphony I (Saucedo)
• Temecula Valley Fanfare
• To This Heartbeat There is No End
• Triumphant Fanfare (1997)
• Ukrainian Bell Carol (as arranger) (1904/2004)
• Ukrainian Bell Carol (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1904/2004/2018)
• Valley Montage and Celebration (2015)
• Walking into History (2010)
• What a Wonderful World (as arranger)
• Whirlwind(s)
• With Each Sunset (2005)
• Wind Dances (2018)
• Windsprints (2003)

Resources

• Carol of the Bells, Wikipedia
• Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. "Richard Saucedo." Accessed 2 December 2015