# Carol of the Bells **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 24, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells/561719 "2010-11-24T00:22:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zakalwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zakalwe/32/270_2.png) [@Zakalwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zakalwe)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells/561719/1 "2010-11-24T00:22:41Z")
Could someone, please, for the love of God, point me towards a traditional recording of this song? By traditional, I mean IT USES BELLS and PEOPLE SING THE WORDS. I have the Mannheim version, I have the Harry Connick, Jr version, I have 5 different versions. What I don’t have is one that actually plays the damn song on bells while people sing the chorale. iTunes, Amazon, don’t care. If I absolutely have to, I’ll buy an album. Thanks in advance folks, you’re my only hope. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells/561719/2 "2010-11-24T00:30:20Z")
According to [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_of_the_Bells) actual bells aren’t part of the song. [The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0eTxd5quK4&feature=related) does what I consider a traditional version. I’ll hunt around for one with bells for you. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells/561719/3 "2010-11-24T00:54:00Z")
Don’t know if you can get a recording of it but here are [The Utah Valley Handbell Ringers and the Utah Baroque Ensemble](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO5X2erK6Dc) performing it live. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells/561719/4 "2010-11-24T02:35:33Z")
Robert Shaw Chorale, unaccompanied, no bells: [http://www.amazon.com/Carol-of-the-Bells/dp/B001V5LYVC/ref=sr\_1\_cc\_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1290565162&sr=1-2-catcorr](http://www.amazon.com/Carol-of-the-Bells/dp/B001V5LYVC/ref=sr_1_cc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1290565162&sr=1-2-catcorr) mp3 download available, from the CD “A Festival of Carols”. It’s the Wilhousky arrangement noted in the wiki article. This is the only version I’ve ever sung in choirs for Christmas ever since I was a kid. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells/561719/5 "2010-11-24T03:32:29Z")
Some of of the people sing “ding, dong, [etc.]” during part of it. Were you perhaps thinking of that when mentioning playing it on bells? ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells/561719/6 "2010-11-24T03:41:53Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/n89tGTL_EmI/hqdefault.jpg "Cast in Bronze "Carol of the Bells"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n89tGTL_EmI) ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells/561719/7 "2010-11-24T04:35:18Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it9d94JNriQ) ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells/561719/8 "2010-11-24T05:30:48Z")
[![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/FWyZYeNcr3M/hqdefault.jpg "Carol of the Bells Ding Fries Are Done") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWyZYeNcr3M) ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells/561719/9 "2010-11-24T08:08:42Z")
The original is _a capella_. I’ve also heard it done exclusively on hand bells. I have not hear the traditional version done with bells and vocalists. I’m not exactly sure how you would do it, really. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_A.Robrin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sam_a.robrin/32/14497_2.png) [@Sam\_A.Robrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_A.Robrin)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells/561719/10 "2010-11-24T08:14:53Z")
I found one I liked while researching a parody I had to write to help out a victim of America’s longest war. I’ll include the knockoff with the link because, hey, you might as well blow your own horn, nobody else wants to put their lips on it…: **OPEN UP THE CELLS!** (“Carol of the Bells”) [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/o-UdCQD3WCs/hqdefault.jpg "Carol of the Anime Bells") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-UdCQD3WCs) Look how the laws– Millions of laws– Grew out of touch: Too big, too much. This War on Drugs [background: Free – dom! Free – dom! etc.] Turned cops to thugs. Bad law incites Loss of our rights. Add up the cost, Count all we’ve lost, But look around: Drugs still abound. Millions are jailed. Face it: You’ve failed. Innocent folk Just want to smoke. Who can respect Power unchecked? Change–we’ll forgive, Freely to live! Spin, Earth! Revolve! Peace will evolve! Humanity In harmony! Time for us to reassert our freedom! Time for us to reassert our freedom! “Live Free Or Die!”– These words we cry, So life can be Peaceful and free. Free – dom! Free – dom! Free – dom! Free – dom! Freeeeee! [Repeat] ---
**Author:** ![shorin-ryu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@shorin-ryu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shorin-ryu)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells/561719/11 "2010-11-24T13:49:44Z")
A few years ago I went to a concert where this was performed a capella…in the original Ukrainian. Turns out the original is not really a Christmas carol. > **[Shchedryk (song)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shchedryk_(song))** > > "Shchedryk" (Ukrainian: Щедрик, from Щедрий вечiр, "Bountiful Evening") is a Ukrainian shchedrivka, or New Year's song, known in English as "The Little Swallow". It was arranged by composer and teacher Mykola Leontovych in 1916, and tells a story of a swallow flying into a household to sing of wealth that will come with the following spring. "Shchedryk" was originally sung on the night of January 13, New Year's Eve in the Julian Calendar (December 31 Old Style), which is Shchedry Vechir. Early "S... ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells/561719/12 "2010-11-24T14:53:21Z")
here is an original version sung by the don cossack choir of s. jaroff. this is the version i grew up with. [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/gM_n_7tcXuo/hqdefault.jpg "SHCHEDRYK + BANDURA BY S.JAROFF'S DON COSSACKS.") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gM_n_7tcXuo) it is the first song. the second is a folk song. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells/561719/13 "2010-11-24T16:37:55Z")
Slight hijack but this version of Carol of the Bells just kills me [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiIDxYtCP7s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiIDxYtCP7s) ---
**Author:** ![Jormungandr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a6a055/32.png) [@Jormungandr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jormungandr)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells/561719/14 "2010-11-24T19:59:46Z")
> [@Sam\_A.Robrin](#): > > I found one I liked while researching a parody I had to write to help out a victim of America’s longest war. I’ll include the knockoff with the link because, hey, you might as well blow your own horn, nobody else wants to put their lips on it…: > > **OPEN UP THE CELLS!** (“Carol of the Bells”) > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-UdCQD3WCs&feature=related](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-UdCQD3WCs&feature=related) The link goes to the anime video of Carol of the Bells A search on YouTube turns up one about cell phones. On a personal note, Mike Oldfield’s “Tubular Bells” has ruined this song for me. Growing up, they sounded to similar to where my sister and I used to call “Carol of the Bells” that “satanic Christmas song.” ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells/561719/15 "2010-11-24T20:24:20Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > Slight hijack but this version of Carol of the Bells just kills me > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiIDxYtCP7s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiIDxYtCP7s) I like his cover of the Grinch song, also. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells/561719/16 "2010-11-24T21:22:17Z")
Here’s a nice Cast In Bronze (thanks **ThisSpaceForRent** ) [Carol Of The Bells](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbPnVQIIOl) youtube video. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Rieux](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Dr.Rieux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Rieux)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells/561719/17 "2010-11-24T21:38:22Z")
I prefer it as an instrumental–mainly because the lyrics are so lame. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells/561719/18 "2010-11-24T21:43:04Z")
> [@BubbaDog](#): > > Slight hijack but this version of Carol of the Bells just kills me > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiIDxYtCP7s](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hiIDxYtCP7s) This kicks ass. ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/carol-of-the-bells/561719/19 "2010-11-24T21:48:41Z")
Or you might to put a merry little Cthulhu in your holidays : [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ftld7Ohojg](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ftld7Ohojg)