canasg choral music publishing - What child is this?

CH4019

What child is this?

words by William Chatterton Dix (1837 - 1898)

tune traditional English
arranged by Sheena Phillips for unaccompanied SATB chorus

SATB performance time approx 2m 30s

Arranger's note

The tune (‘Greensleeves’) was already hundreds of years old by the time William Dix wrote these words for it. Dix lived and worked in Bristol, England, and his carol was published there but is now much better known in the USA

Music

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Hear a MIDI file of the song

Words

What child is this?

What child is this who, laid to rest,
On Mary’s lap is sleeping,
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping?

Chorus:
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies he in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christians fear: for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.

So bring him incense, gold and myrrh;
Come peasant, king, to own him.
The King of Kings salvation brings;
Let loving hearts enthrone him!

William Chatterton Dix

Price per copy Ł1.70 ($2.50)

Note: This price is for the first 20 licensed copies of the song, further copies cost only 25% of this price.

Companion pieces

Browse the Christmas section of the Canasg catalogue for more songs like this one. To go there now, click on the 'catalogue' box to the right.

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What child is this?

Arranger's note

Music

Words

Companion pieces

Canasg Music