This classic holiday song (by John Henry Hopkins, Jr.
1957) has been reinterpreted by Dead Rose Symphony to reflect the seemingly
endless wandering while searching for the newborn child of Mary & Joseph.
Listen for a refrain of another seasonal song "I Wonder While I Wander" (John
Jacob Niles, 1933) to reinforce the question as to whether the search will ever
come to an end.
This song is adapted from
"Ukrainian Bell Carol", part of a larger piece. It was written in 1916 by
Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovich called "Schredryk". It is better known in
the Western world as "Carol of the Bells". Originally based on an ancient
Ukrainian folk song, written to wish in the New Year, the work was composed
during political and social upheaval in the Ukraine. Although the work was
re-distributed in 1936 by American arranger Peter Wilhousky (complete with new
lyrics that introduced the Christmas theme), Dead Rose Symphony has redone the
piece to reflect the darker side of winter, yet with faith of better times to
come as it was originally intended.
Though not meant as a political statement, the release of this song coincides
with dark economic times on a global level, a ringing of bells that may foretell
hard times, or which may reflect a spirit of survival and a herald towards a
better future.
