The angels came from heaven

Kupalo songfolkComposerArranger

Mar 20

Written By andrew waller

Translated Text

Score Ukrainian

Score Transliterated

The angels came from heaven | Ой зайшли з неба ангели | Oj zajshly z neba anhely

Arranger: Mykhailo Haivoronskyj | Михайло Гайворонський

This folk carol from the unique Lemko region follows the journey of the angels that came down from heaven seeking the manger where the Virgin Mary gave birth to Jesus. When they find it, they see Mary on her knees tending to the baby and cradling Him in her arms. The carol then urges the listener to sing this song three times so that seventy sins will be wiped from his soul with God Almighty’s help. Lemkos are one of several ethnic Ukrainian sub-groups that inhabit the Carpathian Mountains of Western Ukraine. Their spoken language, which is uncodified, has been described as a unique regional dialect, almost a language in its own right. 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.