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The story of shchedryk [ЩЕДРИК]

the original carol of the bells

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A story of love and hope from Ukraine. Little Wings is the story of Shchedryk, known by many as the popular holiday song Carol of the Bells, but originally written by Mykola Leontovych over one hundred years ago as a traditional Ukrainian folk song heralding the coming of spring. Shchedryk’s original well-wishing lyrics tell the tale of a swallow flying between households, proclaiming the plentiful year that the family will have. Accompanied by the Shchedryk melody, Little Wings follows a lonesome swallow’s adventure to guide carol singers to a family in need of renewed hope.

A story of love and hope
from Ukraine

Little Wings is the story of Shchedryk, known by many as the popular holiday song Carol of the Bells, but originally written by Mykola Leontovych over one hundred years ago as a traditional Ukrainian folk song heralding the coming of spring.

Shchedryk’s original well-wishing lyrics tell the tale of a swallow flying between households, proclaiming the plentiful year that the family will have. Accompanied by the Shchedryk melody, Little Wings follows a lonesome swallow’s adventure to guide carol singers to a family in need of renewed hope.

CREATED BY MARIIA SHUB & RODION SHUB. Mariia Shub, award-winning Ukrainian production designer and artist, who was displaced to the UK with her two daughters, and her brother Rodion Shub, animation director, who was displaced to Canada with his family, worked alongside AKQA to tell the real story of Carol of the Bells as a gift to the world.

CREATED BY
MARIIA SHUB & RODION SHUB

Mariia Shub, award-winning Ukrainian production designer and artist, who was displaced to the UK with her two daughters, and her brother Rodion Shub, animation director, who was displaced to Canada with his family, worked alongside AKQA to tell the real story of Carol of the Bells as a gift to the world.

Mariia’s Portfolio Rodion’s Portfolio
The SOUNDTRACK. Kyiv Children’s Choir Shchedryk, one of Ukraine’s most recognised youth musical ensembles, provides the Little Wings soundtrack in a previously unreleased recording of Mykola Leontovych’s Shchedryk, led by Artistic Director and Chief Conductor, Marianna Sablina. The film features sound design by composer, producer and international DJ, Damon Baxter.

The
SOUNDTRACK

Kyiv Children’s Choir Shchedryk, one of Ukraine’s most recognised youth musical ensembles, provides the Little Wings soundtrack in a previously unreleased recording of Mykola Leontovych’s Shchedryk, led by Artistic Director and Chief Conductor, Marianna Sablina. The film features sound design by composer, producer and international DJ, Damon Baxter.

TYPOGRAPHY BY KYIV TYPE FOUNDRY. Little Wings is presented with typography made by Kyiv Type Foundry (KTF), a Cyrillic first type foundry from Kyiv that works to bridge the gap between generations. Established by designers Yevgeniy Anfalov and Oleś Gergun, KTF’s practice is a long-term homage to Ukraine’s rich history.

TYPOGRAPHY BY
KYIV TYPE FOUNDRY

Little Wings is presented with typography made by Kyiv Type Foundry (KTF), a Cyrillic first type foundry from Kyiv that works to bridge the gap between generations. Established by designers Yevgeniy Anfalov and Oleś Gergun, KTF’s practice is a long-term homage to Ukraine’s rich history.

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ORIGINAL LYRICS OF SHCHEDRYK

Shchedryk, shchedryk, a shchedrivka (New Year’s carol). A little swallow flew (into the household). And started to twitter. To summon the master. “Come out, come out, O master (of the household). Look at the sheep pen. There the ewes are nestling. And the lambkin have been born. Your goods (livestock) are great. You will have a lot of money, (by selling them). Your goods (livestock) are great. You will have a lot of money, (by selling them). If not money, then chaff: (from all the grain you will harvest). You have a dark-eyebrowed (beautiful) wife”. Shchedryk, shchedryk, a shchedrivka. A little swallow flew.

Shchedryk, shchedryk, a shchedrivka
(New Year’s carol)
A little swallow flew
(into the household)
And started to twitter
To summon the master
“Come out, come out, O master
(of the household)
Look at the sheep pen
There the ewes are nestling
And the lambkin have been born
Your goods (livestock) are great
You will have a lot of money,
(by selling them)
Your goods (livestock) are great
You will have a lot of money,
(by selling them)
If not money, then chaff:
(from all the grain you will harvest)
You have a dark-eyebrowed (beautiful) wife”
Shchedryk, shchedryk, a shchedrivka
A little swallow flew

Shchedryk shchedryk, shchedrivochka
Pryletila lastivochka
Stala sobi shchebetaty
Hospodarya vyklykaty
“Vyydy, vyydy, hospodaryu Podyvysya na kosharu
Tam ovechky pokotylys?
A yahnychky narodylys?
V tebe tovar ves khoroshyy
Budesh maty mirku hroshey!
V tebe tovar ves khoroshyy
Budesh maty mirku hroshey!
Khoch ne hroshey, to polova, v tebe zhinka chornobrova”
Shchedryk shchedryk, shchedrivochka
Pryletila lastivochka


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