Return of the swallow

Kupalo songfolkComposerArranger

Mar 22

Written By andrew waller

Translated Text

Score Ukrainian

Score Transliterated

Return of the swallow | Прилетіла ластівонька | Pryletila lastivon'ka

Arranger: Alexander Jacobchuk | Олександр Яковчук

This shchedrivka is about a swallow, the harbinger of spring, which arrives and calls to the Master of the House to view the bounty of his livestock. Singers ask the Master to be generous in payment for their New Year’s wishes. 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 was established in 1965.