Foreign Ministry launches English-language project about Shchedryk

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched a new digital project about how the Ukrainian Shchedryk became a world-famous hit Carol of the Bells.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched a new digital project for the foreign audience about the Christmas hit Carol of the Bells: a carol that is known and loved on all continents. This is the story of Christmas that Ukraine gave to the world,” the press service of the Foreign Ministry informs.

In the section on Ukraine's official website Ukraine.ua dedicated to Shchedryk, foreigners will learn about the ancient origins of the carol, brilliant Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych, the world tour of the choir led by conductor Oleksandr Koshyts, and cultural diplomacy during Ukraine's independence struggle.

The project is presented in the format of a timeline from pre-Christian times till the present day. The authors and experts paid special attention to the concert tour of the Ukrainian choir, thanks to which Shchedryk gained popularity in Europe and America. One can also learn about how Shchedryk became a symbol of Christmas in the United States, why the carol became known as Carol of the Bells and how it united the world.

The unique materials and photos from Ukrainian, European, and American archives are provided, as well as videos of different versions of Shchedryk's performance – from NBA basketball players, who "played" the melody with the help of balls, to famous bands and musicians.

The project was created by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine with the support of the British Embassy in Ukraine. The conception of the narrative of the project, research, and texts were created Tina Peresunko, founder of the NGO "Leontovych Institute". The visual identity was designed by Maksym Shapoval. PlusOne social impact came up with creative idea and implementation.

Shchedryk is the Ukrainian melody that has become a symbol of Christmas holidays around the world. It is best known in the English version of the Carol of the Bells.

Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych turned a simple folk melody into a world masterpiece. Leontovych’s Shchedryk was performed for the first time 105 years ago, in December 1916, and in a few years became an instrument of Ukrainian diplomacy of that time and was heard in the best concert halls of Czechoslovakia, Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Germany, Poland, Spain. Next year marks the 100th anniversary since Shchedryk was performed with great success on the Carnegie Hall stage in New York. After that, the world tour of the melody continued in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Cuba, and Canada.

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