The Carol of the Bells is the most famous of at least four different Christmas carols that are based on the Ukrainian Bell Carol which is part of a large choral work called Shchedryk by the Ukrainian composer Mykola Dmytrovich Leontovych (1877-1921). It was first performed by students of Kiev University in December 1916.The tune is an adaptation of an old ‘shchedrivka’, a song traditionally sung on Ukrainian New Year's Eve (January 13th) which hopes for good fortune in the y...