Four Ukrainian Carols

Drawn from the same body of music as the world-famous “Carol of the Bells” (known in its original form as “Shchedrik”—Musica Russica edition CC 002), this suite of four Ukrainian Christmas carols, arranged by Nikolai Kachanov, is lilting and heart-warming. Although it was conceived as a set, each carol can also be performed individually (and is available in that form from Musica Russica). The arrangements were composed for and premiered by the Russian Chamber Chorus of New York, a fine semi-professional ensemble, but they are well-suited for high school and middle school choirs as well because of the simplicity of the men’s parts and the possibility of using instruments in place of certain voices.