KITKA: Oj, jak že bulo izpreždy vika (Live) - Ukrainian Creation Carol

OJ, JAK ŽE BULO IZPREŽDY VIKA
(Oh, how it was before time began)

Gruzky village, Kyiv-Svyatošinskyi district, Ukraine
from
the repertoire of Žyvytsia
arr. Kelly Atkins, inspired by an
interpretation by the Eteria Choir of L’viv

In pre-Christian Ukraine, the holiday of Koliada was celebrated at
the Winter Solstice before its rituals were absorbed into festivities
surrounding Christmas. Koliada marked and celebrated the mystical
birth of the world. This beloved creation carol is still sung around
Ukrainian Christmas Eve feast tables.

Ой, як же було ізпрежди віка
Ой, дай Бо[г].
Ой, як не було неба і землі
А тільки було синєє море
На тому морі горіли огні
Коло тих огнів сиділи святи
Радять радоньку, кого в море послать
Ой, як не було неба і землі
А тільки було синєє море
На тому морі горіли огні
Коло тих огнів сиділи святи
Радять радоньку, кого в море послать
Ой, пойди, Петро, по море на дно
Та достань Петро жовтого піска
Та посіємо по всьому світу
Щоб уродилось небо і земля
Небо зорями, земля квітами

English translation of Ukrainian text:

Oh, how it was before time began
Refrain: Oh, God, let it be...
When there was no sky and earth
When there was only the blue sea
Lights burned on that sea
And the
holy ones sat around the lights
Holding a council to decide whom to
send into the sea.
'Oh, go, sister, to the bottom of the sea
And bring back
some golden sand.
Let us sow it all over the world
So that the sky and
earth will be born.
The sky full with stars,
and the earth covered with flowers'

Heartfelt thanks to Nadia Tarnawsky for translation assistance.

Recorded live on December 17, 2022 at St. Paul's Church, Oakland, California

Performed at WINTERSONGS by KITKA WOMEN'S VOCAL ENSEMBLE:
Kelly Atkins (soloist), Stacey Barnett, Barbara Byers, Shira Cion, Erin Lashnits Herman, Hannah Levy, Janet Kutulas, Maclovia Quintana, Katya Schoenberg

Video by Kent Kessinger
Live audio by Greg Kuhn and Guy Brenner
Mixed by Matt Palmer

If this music moves you, please consider a tax-deductible donation to Kitka's Pandemic Recovery Campaign. http://www.kitka.org/donate

Purchase recordings by Kitka at http://www.kitka.org/shop