Carol of the Bells
| "Carol of the Bells" | |
|---|---|
| Christmas carol by Mykola Leontovych | |
The four-note motif (shown four times) | |
| Text | by Peter J. Wilhousky |
| Based on | "Shchedryk" |
| Composed | before 1916 |
| ⓘ | |
"Carol of the Bells" is a popular Christmas carol, which is based on the Ukrainian New Year's song "Shchedryk". The music for the carol comes from the song written by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych in or before 1916; the English-language lyrics were written in 1936 by American composer of Ukrainian origin Peter Wilhousky.
The music is based on a four-note ostinato and is in 3
4 time signature, with the B-flat bell pealing in 6
8 time. The carol is metrically bistable (which means it is characterized by hemiola), with a listener being able to focus on either meter or switch between them. It has been adapted for musical genres that include classical, heavy metal, jazz, country music, rock, trap, and pop. The music has been featured in films and television shows.