Fantasy on Shchedryk (Ukrainian Carol)
Mykola Leontovich wrote this familiar tune as a Ukrainian New Year's song, "shchedrivka", which translates as 'little swallow' and tells the tale of a swallow flying into a home as a harbinger of wealth in the spring. Over the years, this delightful tune has become associated with the holidays thanks to new lyrics that had nothing to do with swallows but everything to do with Christmas!
This arrangement begins with the familiar and repetitive four-note pattern which develops into a series of creatively placed stopped techniques. There are wonderful ascending sixteenth-note parallel octaves leading to the return of the four-note pattern with the addition of a new bass line which develops into the Gregorian Dies Irae plainchant. This is an amazingly exciting, fresh setting of two familiar melodies which will become a terrific addition to your group's holiday repertoire. 144 measures in C Major.