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. Purchase recordings by Kitka at