Established in Toronto, Canada in 1965 by founding conductor Halyna Kondracka, the award-winning, 50-member, all-female Vesnivka Choir is renowned for its musical excellence and quality repertoire. The Choir has performed its impressive repertoire of Ukrainian liturgical, classical and folk music, in full Ukrainian costume, on concert stages all over the world including Carnegie Hall, London's Royal Albert Hall and Rome's St. Peter's Basilica. Kondracka, a member of the Ukrainian Canadian Choral Society, has also received many personal honors for her work. 17 authentic songs, all sung in Ukrainian: 'Springtime Dreams,' 'The Little Cuckoo Bird,' 'A Young Maiden's Garden,' 'The Parting,' 'The Little Mulberry,' 'The Maiden's Lament,' 'On Yonder Hill,' 'May I Go Dancing?,' 'The Sounds of the Karpaty,' 'Ivanchyku,' 'Springtime Showers' and 'Verchovyno' are some favorites. These are deeply-felt songs that touch or break the heart, songs of lost love and desire, joy, memories, leaving and sorrow. A very special CD from Canada's wonderful, incongruous, authentic Ukrainian ensemble, the Vesnivka Choir!

Listen to Ivana Kupala in RealAudio.

Ukranian Christmas Carols - Kolyadky - (1 - 11) are sung from Christmas Eve - January 6 (according to the Julian Calendar) to Epiphany on January 19. These songs can be traced to pagan times. With the introduction of Christianity in Ukraine in 988, pagan songs were replaced by Christian carols and hymns. Shchedrivky - New Years song - (12-17) also have pagan roots and herald the New Year which starts January 14. These delightful folk songs with their charming rhythmic melodies, express wishes for health, wealth and happiness.

Listen to The Bright Star in RealAudio.

Kolyadky (carols) and Shchedrivky (New Year's songs) are one of the oldest genres of Ukrainian folk music, dating back to the pre-Christian era. With the coming of Christianity in 988, pagan songs were replaced with Christian carols and hymns, and these delightful (all accompanied) songs reflect sectarian life and express wishes for good health, wealth and happiness. The all-woman Vesnivka Choir was established in 1965 by conductor/director Halyna Kondracki and has won many awards. The Toronto Ukrainian Male Chamber Choir was founded in 2001 by Kondraki in affiliation with Vesnivka. 15 tunes, from 'Christ is Born' and 'Heaven and earth rejoice' to 'The beautiful guelder-rose' and 'The Carol.' Wonderful solos on 'The stars shone from heaven' and 'A son is born.' This beautiful music, from another culture and another time, is all new to us, but that only increases our appreciation for and enjoyment of it!