Tropar: the day of Your birth
Vesnivka Catalog Number 0119
Tropar: the day of Your birth | Різдво Tвоє | Rizdvo Tvoje
Arranger: Andrij Hnatyshyn | Андрій Гнатишин
Sung as part of the Christmas Mass, this Tropar (which is sung instead of the usual third Antiphon) hails Christ as the light of understanding and the sun of justice sent from Heaven. 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.