"Carol of the Bells" is a traditional Ukrainian carol composed by Mykola Dmytrovch Leontovych. The lyrics were written by Peter J. Wilhousky. It has roots in an ancient pagan Ukrainian New Year's chant known as "Shchedryk. The original work was meant to be sung without accompaniment. This song was first sung by a choral group at Kiev University in 1916.
Leontovych specialized in church and folklore music. He was educated as a priest, and graduated from a seminary but decided to be a music teacher. He was assassinated by a Soviet agent on January 23, 1921, likely because of his affiliation to a movement promoting Ukraine as an independent state. Leontovych is seen as a martyr in the Eastern Orthodox church.
We are seeking photos and stories of the Christmas season of the early years of settlement until 1970s in Yorkton and area.
Contact Terri Lefebvre Prince,
Heritage Researcher,
City of Yorkton Archives,
Box 400, 37 Third Avenue North
Yorkton, Sask. S3N 2W3
306-786-1722
[email protected]
