The world of Christmas carols is often perceived as a realm of innocent joy and festive cheer. However, beneath the surface of beloved tunes like "Jingle Bells" and "Carol of the Bells" lie complex histories, fraught with cultural appropriation and, in some cases, controversy.
In recent years, the origins and cultural impact of these carols have come under scrutiny, prompting discussions about their place in contemporary society. Let's delve into the stories behind these iconic songs, exploring their roots and the controversies they have sparked.
The Secret History of Jingle Bells | What Is Music
The "Jingle Bells" Controversy
Kyna Hamill, an academic researcher, aimed to shed light on a long-hidden history, detailing the racist origins of a popular Christmas carol. Hamill had probed the origins of the popular carol, hoping to settle a friendly rivalry between Medford, Massachusetts, and Savannah, Georgia, over where Jingle Bells was written. About two years ago she stumbled across a rather different story.
The song, initially known as "One Horse Open Sleigh," was first performed in blackface in a minstrel show in Boston in September 1857, she discovered. Hamill published the findings in a peer-reviewed paper in September, noting that during the past 160 years the song had become an example of music whose “blackface and racist origins have been subtly and systematically removed from its history”.
The song was written by James Pierpont, who badly needed work after failing at several other professional ventures. “Pierpont capitalized on minstrel music and entered upon a ‘safe’ ground for satirizing black participation in northern winter activities,” she wrote.
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Last year she detailed her findings to local media, yielding a front page story in the Boston Globe and no backlash. This year, however, was a different story. “Newest Christmas controversy has social justice warriors claiming this classic holiday carol is racist,” a Fox News host told viewers earlier this month. Breitbart warned that Hamill was urging people to “shun the jaunty tune”.
Hamill said much reporting of her research was incorrect and laden with “all sorts of absolutely absurd” accusations. “It was obviously an easy way to bait and politicise Christmas,” she said. “Which seems to be what extreme political outlets want to do.” She had never said that Jingle Bells was now racist nor had she sought to discourage people from singing the tune, she pointed out.
Still, the backlash was fierce. “So I think people just want to be heard and nobody seems to be listening any more.” Ironically the controversy has sent interest in her research on Jingle Bells soaring, placing it currently among the most-read articles on Cambridge University Press.
“If anything, this irresponsible reporting has drawn more attention to an academic article that would usually just sit in a journal that very few would read,” she said. Days into the backlash, she had no regrets about publishing the work. “I was doing what an academic does,” said Hamill. “I was trying to do the best research that I could and write it up."
Despite the controversy, Hamill maintained that her intention was not to ruin Christmas or discourage people from singing the song. Her goal was to shed light on the song's origins and promote a more nuanced understanding of its history.
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The Enduring Appeal of "Carol of the Bells"
"Carol of the Bells" is a popular Christmas carol, which is based on the Ukrainian New Year's song "Shchedryk".
The original Ukrainian folk story related to the song was associated with the coming New Year, which, in pre-Christian Ukraine, was celebrated with the coming of spring in April. With the introduction of Christianity to Ukraine, and the adoption of the Julian calendar, the celebration of the new year was moved from April to January, and the holiday with which the chant was originally associated became Malanka (Ukrainian: Щедрий вечір, Shchedry vechir), the eve of the Julian new year (the night of 13-14 January in the Gregorian calendar).
The song was first performed by the Ukrainian students at Kyiv University in December 1916. It was introduced to Western audiences by the Ukrainian National Chorus during its 1919 concert tour of Europe.
Two other settings of the composition were also created by Leontovych: one for the women's choir (unaccompanied), and another for the children's choir with piano accompaniment. Wilhousky rearranged the melody for the orchestra with new lyrics for NBC radio network's symphony orchestra, centred around the theme of bells because the melody reminded him of handbells, which begins "Hark! How the bells". It was first aired during the Great Depression, and Wilhousky secured copyright to the new lyrics in 1936 and also published the song, despite the song having been published almost two decades earlier in the Ukrainian National Republic.
Its initial popularity stemmed largely from Wilhousky's ability to reach a wide audience in his role as arranger for the NBC Symphony Orchestra. American recordings by various artists began to surface on the radio in the 1940s. The song gained further popularity when an instrumental was featured in television advertisements for André champagne in the 1970s.
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The music is based on a four-note ostinato and is in 34 time signature, with the B-flat bell pealing in 68 time. The carol is metrically bistable, with a listener being able to focus on either meter or switch between them. It has been adapted for musical genres that include classical, heavy metal, jazz, country music, rock, trap, and pop.
Here’s a list of notable performances of the song:
- 1963: Carol of the Bells in an orchestral version, conducted by Leonard Bernstein, and New York Philharmonic Orchestra: on the LP The Joy of Christmas, also featuring The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, directed by Richard P.
- 1990: Composer John Williams conducted a version for the Home Alone: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.
- 1993: David Foster wrote a rendition for his album The Christmas Album.
- 1995: Savatage recorded "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24", an instrumental, heavy-metal medley of "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" and "Carol of the Bells". The song became the No.
- 2005: Nox Arcana performed this song on their album Winter's Knight that reached No.
- 2011: The Piano Guys published a cello arrangement of the song on YouTube, and it has garnered over 30 million views.
- 2016: Voctave performed this song a capella for their album "The Spirit of the Season".
- 2017: Lena Meyer-Landrut released her version on the official album to the television show Sing meinen Song - Das Weihnachtskonzert, Vol.
- 2021: Mantikor [de] released a German metal & rock version on the official Rookies & Friends, Vol.
The song appears in the 1990 film Home Alone as arranged by John Williams. In 2018, this version charted at No.
The enduring appeal of "Carol of the Bells" lies in its captivating melody and its ability to evoke a sense of wonder and festivity. Its versatility has allowed it to transcend genres and cultures, becoming a beloved Christmas staple worldwide.
"Carol of the Bells": Performance Timeline
| Year | Artist/Event | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1916 | Ukrainian Students at Kyiv University | First performance of the song. |
| 1919 | Ukrainian National Chorus | Introduced to Western audiences during a concert tour of Europe. |
| 1936 | Peter J. Wilhousky | Secured copyright to new lyrics and published the song. |
| 1963 | Leonard Bernstein & New York Philharmonic Orchestra | Orchestral version on the LP "The Joy of Christmas". |
| 1990 | John Williams | Arranged version for the "Home Alone" soundtrack. |
| 1995 | Savatage | Recorded a heavy-metal medley of "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" and "Carol of the Bells". |
| 2011 | The Piano Guys | Published a cello arrangement on YouTube. |
As we celebrate the holiday season, it is important to acknowledge the complex histories of these carols and engage in open and honest conversations about their cultural impact. By doing so, we can create a more inclusive and respectful environment for all.
