Mykola Leontovych

Mykola Dmytrowytsch Leontowytsch ( Ukrainian: Микола Дмитрович Леонтович ) (. . * 1 Dezemberjul / December 13 1877greg; † January 23, 1921 ) was a Ukrainian composer, choral conductor and teacher. His international fame today is mainly due to his work Schtschedryk, which was adapted in 1936 by Peter J. Wilhousky in English under the title of Carol of the Bells. In this version it is today, especially in the Anglo-American world, the most famous Christmas carols.

After theological studies Mykola Leontowytsch worked as a teacher in the provinces of Kiev, Jekaterinoslaw (now Dnipropetrovsk ) and Podolia. Soon, however, he decided to study music, for which he attended courses in Saint Petersburg and Kiev. There he quickly gained a reputation as an experienced choral conductor. From 1918 he taught at the Kiev Conservatory and at the Lysenko Institute of Music and drama.

In his creative work Leontowytsch left more than 150 compositions for choirs. His entire work is strongly influenced religious and Ukrainian- national. Interpreted with preference to music in Ukrainian folk songs and poems. This category also includes his most famous work Schtschedryk, a song for the Orthodox New Year falls. In addition, he created cantatas and other religious works. His Ukrainian opera Na russaltschyn velykden, which should be based on texts by Borys Hrintschenko, he could never finish.

In the night of 22 to January 23, 1921 Leontowytsch was at the age of 43 years shot in his parents' home by an agent of the secret Cheka.

Works

• Schtschedryk - (1916 )
• Kosaka nessut
• Dudaryk
• Schentschytschok - brentschytschok
• Haju, haju selenium rosmaju
• Well russaltschyn welykden ( opera ) - ( unfinished)