THE WORLD OF KOLIADA

The second-largest country in Europe, Ukraine is a place of breath-taking landscapes, lush meadows, cherry orchards, and extremely fertile agricultural land. In the Soviet days it was commonly referred to as ''the granary of the country''. Perhaps that explains why, over the centuries, Ukraine frequently looked like a lucrative gain for a horde of invaders: from the Ottoman to the Russian Empires, from Austro Hungary to the Soviet state. They ravished the land and suppressed the people.

Yet the spirit of the nation has never been suppressed. The Ukrainian heart beats as strong as ever, and the Ukrainians keep their culture going, lovingly passing it down through generations.

The present collection is the first publicationof the English translation of Christmas songs (koliadkas) and chants, masterfully arranged and orchestrated. Complete with informative introductions and sheet music, this collection will appeal to anyone who is interested in history, ethnography, music, and singing and who would like to support the Ukrainian course.