Personal Records is pleased to release to the world the single “Shchedryk (Carol of the Bells)” from his upcoming worldwide release of Paramount: The Symphony Sessions.

All proceeds from this release go to help Ukrainians in and out of the country. When you add this to your cart, you are given the option to "Name Your Price." Use the drop down menu at right if you'd like to give a donation above the price of "Shchedryk - Carol of the Bells)" then click "Update Price" when you are finished. All donations of any size are given to help Ukrainians.

The story of “Shchedryk” goes back years earlier. Calvin has always been drawn to the strong music of Italian, Russian, German and Ukrainian composers and created his powerful solo piano version some years ago. Moving into the orchestral world gave Calvin many more colors with which to paint his musical canvasses.

Teaming up with Evgeniy Braga, Serge Krutsenko and R.J. Miller, “Shchedryk (Carol of the Bells)” took on a new dimension and power reflecting Calvin’s unique interpretation of this timeless classic. With Calvin’s violin solo arrangement reminiscent of Vivaldi’s Winter Concerto, Calvin’s syncopated pulsating horns and epic cinematic string line arrangements, Calvin’s version of “Shchedryk” is thrilling all audiences regardless of their musical tastes.

The worldwide debut of “Shchedryk” came when the United States Embassy sponsored Calvin’s concert in Dnipro, Ukraine, where an earlier version of Calvin’s “Shchedryk” was performed with the Dnipro Symphony Orchestra. With the current crises in Ukraine, it would be almost impossible to imagine “Shchedryk”, the national song of Ukraine, being recorded by a Russian orchestra, but that is what happened next! The Taurida International Symphony Orchestra in St. Petersburg Russia recorded the symphonic version for the album and also performed Calvin’s “Shchedryk” in concert.

“Shchedryk (Carol of the Bells)” is truly an international song of peace and hope that the nations would turn their swords into plows as Christ, the Prince of Peace, extends His reign to all nations. As Isaiah 2:4 proclaims:

He [Christ] will settle disputes among the nations and provide arbitration for many peoples. They will turn their swords into plows and their spears into pruning knives. Nations will not take up the sword against other nations, and they will never again train for war.