Analyzing Peter Wilhousky's 'Carol Of The Bells'

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The popular Christmas carol “Carol of the Bells” was written in 1904. The song was composed by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych, while the lyrics were written by Peter Wilhousky. Although “Carol of the Bells” is most commonly known as a Christmas carol, it was not always intended to be so. The song was originally written as a blessing for the Ukrainian New Year, but over time, there were multiple translations and revisions of the original song, and it became better recognized as the Christmas carol we know today. Obviously, there have been translations of the lyrics throughout the years, since the song we sing is not in Ukrainian. The translation of the original lyrics tell of a swallow flying into a home and telling the family of the…show more content…
Since then, the song has been considered to be a Christmas Carol. It grew in popularity over time due to multiple high-profile performances, such as that by the NBC Symphony Orchestra. Throughout the years, the song has been performed and recorded by various celebrities and on various shows. It has been recorded in a variety of musical genres, from classical to pop to metal. Many renditions have been recorded, such as those by Mannheim Steamroller, Wynton Marsalis, Destiny’s Child, and Pentatonix. It has also been performed on television and in movies, such as the Santa Clause, Saturday Night Live (where it was parodied), and American Horror Story. Overall, the song Carol of the Bells has changed quite a bit over the years. It started out as a classic Ukrainian folk-song performed at New Years, but is now best known as a popular Christmas carol. Not only have its origins changed, but its lyrics as well. The song has grown such in popularity that it has been recorded by multiple artists of various genres, as well as performed on television shows and movies, and even parodied. The song is no doubt one of the most popular and well-known Christmas carols, and has left its mark on American society and

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