Mykola LeontovychShchedryk (song) edit
Origin edit
Shchedryk ("Bountiful Evening") is a Ukrainian shchedrivka, or New Year's song,ref known in English as "The Little Swallow".ref It tells a story of a swallow flying into a household to proclaim the plentiful and bountiful year that the family will have.[1]
The song is based on a traditional Ukrainian folk song whose language was thought to have magical properties. The original 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).
The song, based on an ostinato four-note pattern within the range of a minor third,ref is thought to be of prehistoric origins.ref p.18
The English content of "The Little Swallow" identifies it as a kolyadka, traditionally sung during the Christmas holiday season.
With the introduction of Christianity to Ukraine, the celebration of the New Year was moved from April to January,ref and "Shchedryk" became associated with the Shchedry vechir ("Generous Evening") on the night of January 13, New Year's Eve or December 31 in the Julian Calendar.ref
- ^ Almond, B.J. (16 December 2004). "Grad student traces origin of 'super holiday hit'". Houston, Texas: Present Rice University. Archived from the original on 29 September 2008. Retrieved 5 July 2008.
- ^ Valentina, Vinyukova. "Микола Леонтович – Бах У Хоровій Музиці" [Mykola leontovych – Bach in choir music]. Tovtry Community website (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
- ^ Wytwycky, Wasyl. "Leontovych, Mykola". Internet Encyclopaedia of Ukraine. Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
- ^ Kuzyk, Valentyna. "Наші Корифеї: Микола Дмитрович Леонтович" [Our Luminaries: Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych] (in Ukrainian). National Organization of Composers of Ukraine. Archived from the original on 9 November 2007. Retrieved 31 December 2007.
- ^ "Леонтович Микола Дмитрович (1877–1921) композитор, хоровий диригент, громадський діяч, педагог" [Leontovych Mykola Dmytrovych (1877—1921), composer, choir conductor, public figure, teacher]. Osvita (in Ukrainian). 10 September 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
- ^ Melnyk, Olga (18 December 2008). "Реквієм по Леонтовичу" [Requiem for Leontovych]. Ukraine Gazette (in Ukrainian). No. 45. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
- ^ Podolyanyn, Veliky. "До 125-річчя від дня народження Миколи Дмитровича Леонтовича" [To the 125th anniversary of the birth of Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych]. Podilsky Tovtry (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 22 January 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2022.