Aus dem Newsletter des WOMEN'S VOCAL ENSEMBLE KITKA vom 22.12.2022:

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

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 at Wintersongs on December 17, 2022

at St. Paul's Church, Oakland, California 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

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