Rejoice
Rejoice | Радуйтеся всі люди | Radujtesja vsi ljudy
Arranger: AndriJ Hnatyshyn | Андрій Гнатишин
This well-known Christmas carol, originally arranged by Andrij Hnatyshyn and arranged here by Zenoby Lawryshyn for Vesnivka, opens with 'rejoice all ye people' and extols the glory of the Virgin Mary for bringing Jesus Christ into the world. Ukrainian Christmas traditions reflect achievements of an ancient culture, impressive in the musical and contextual diversity of its songs and in the number of its carols and epiphany carols. There are two distinct groups of Ukrainian Christmas music. Koljadky (Ukrainian Christmas Carols) are sung in church alongside traditional liturgical texts and hymns from Christmas Eve (January 6, according to the Julian Calendar) to Epiphany (January 19). Shchedrivky (New Year’s songs), being much older and having pagan roots, are rarely sung in a liturgical setting, given their secular themes of bounty and prosperity. These delightful and festive new-year folk songs of felicitation, with their charming and rhythmic melodies, reflect sectarian life and express wishes for health, happiness and bountiful harvests.
Koljadky and shchedrivky are an important part of Vesnivka's repertoire and have been sung annually since the ensemble's establishment in 1965.