When it comes to Christian music, interestingly enough, the tune (melody) is not always originally “Christian.” Sometimes tunes are borrowed and new words (Christian lyrics) are sung instead of the secular lyrics. Today’s Christmas Carol – “Carol of the Bells” – is one such song.
“Composed by Mykola Dmytrovych Leontovych (1877-1921) in 1916. Originally titled Shchedryk, this Ukrainian folk song is about a sparrow and the bountiful year that awaits a family. It was first performed in the Ukraine on the night of January 13, 1916, on the Julian calendar this is considered New Year's Eve. In the United States the song was first performed on October 5, 1921 at Carnegie Hall.[1]”
Originally, the song was sung in April as a welcome to Spring. Girls would go house to house singing the well-wishing song in exchange for baked goods. When the world (including the Ukraine) switched to the Julian calendar (the one we use now) this spring song was sung as a New Year’s song.[2]
The words were changed to Christian words – the lyrics we know today.
"Peter J. Wilhousky (1902-1978) wrote these new lyrics based on the melody of Shchedryk in 1936. He copyrighted it and the song is what we now know as "Carol of the Bells." As the title implies, this hauntingly beautiful song is about the sound of bells come Christmas time."
Lyrics (Excerpt):
Hark how the bells,
sweet silver bells,
all seem to say,
throw cares away
Hark how the bells,
sweet silver bells,
all seem to say,
throw cares away
Christmas is here,
bringing good cheer,
to young and old,
meek and the bold, …1
bringing good cheer,
to young and old,
meek and the bold, …1
DEVOTION
Wishing one another a Merry Christmas in such a way as to allow the meaning of Christmas and the love of the season to “ring on” in our minds is a true blessing as we live in a day when it seems evil crowds out peace. Carol of the Bells is a beautiful way to share Christmas with one another. The full lyrics conclude with the following lines:
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas,
On on they send,
on without end,
their joyful tone,
to every home.
on without end,
their joyful tone,
to every home.
Ding dong ding dong... dong![3]
The four notes live long in our ears after they have actually stopped striking our eardrums.
They penetrate to our hearts a sense of joy and hope when the Christian lyrics are hung upon them. Our hope that Christ’s coming will cheer our hearts with hope in a hauntingly dark world seems to swell within us.
It is not so much that the song fills us with false hope in Christ, but that the song stirs within us a real hope based on a True Savior who has, as the Angel Host in Luke 2:14 proclaimed, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” It should move us as it did the Shepherds that day to proclaim to everyone the great thing God has done for us all!
And that’s Just A Thot for today. “Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas!”
[1] From the Internet: http://musiced.about.com/od/christmasnewyeararticles/qt/carolofthebells.htm, 12/4/15.
[2] From the Internet: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2004-12/ru-ot121304.php, 12/4/15.
[3] From the Internet: http://makingmusicfun.net/htm/f_mmf_music_library_songbook/carol-of-the-bells-history-and-lyrics.htm, 12/4/15.
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Pastor Greg