What Child Is This?

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What Child Is This?
GenreHymn
Written1865
TextWilliam Chatterton Dix
Based onIsaiah 9:6-7
Meter8.7.8.7 with refrain
Melody"Greensleeves"
Published1871
What Child is this? (1870), set to the tune of "Greensleeves

"What Child Is This?" is a

English folk song, in 1871. Although written in Great Britain, the carol today is more popular in the United States than its country of origin.[1]

Lyrics

Composition

The first

Christ".[2] The carol's melody has been described as "soulful",[1] "haunting and beautiful" in nature.[3]

Context

The context of the carol centres around the Adoration of the Shepherds who visit during the Nativity of Jesus. The questions posed in the lyrics reflect what the shepherds were possibly pondering to themselves when they encountered Jesus, with the rest of the carol providing a response to their questions.[1]

Text

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?
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 Christian, fear: for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you.
Hail, hail the Word made flesh,
The babe, the son of Mary.

So bring him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king, to own him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone him.
Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy, for Christ is born,
The babe, the son of Mary.

[4]

Background and influence

At the time he was writing the lyrics to "What Child Is This?" in 1865,

Alleluia! Sing to Jesus!" and "As with Gladness Men of Old".[1][3] The precise time in 1865 when he wrote the poem "The Manger Throne" is disputed. While the St. Petersburg Times details how Dix penned the work after reading the Gospel for Epiphany that year (Matthew 2:1–12) recounting the journey of the Biblical Magi;[6] Singer's Library of Song: Medium Voice contends that it was actually authored during the Christmas of 1865.[3]

History

Although written in 1865, "What Child Is This?" was only first published six years later in 1871, when it featured in Christmas Carols New and Old,[6] a "prestigious"[7] and "influential"[8] collection of carols that was published in the United Kingdom.[7] The hymnal was edited by Henry Ramsden Bramley and John Stainer; even though it is not known with certainty who paired the three stanzas from "The Manger Throne" with the music from "Greensleeves", the third edition of The Christmas Encyclopedia by William D. Crump and Stories of the Great Christmas Carols both suggest that Stainer – who was also responsible for "harmoniz[ing] the musical setting"[2] – may have done so.[1][2]

See also

References

  1. ^ .
  2. ^ .
  3. ^ .
  4. ^ https://hymnary.org/text/what_child_is_this_who_laid_to_rest/fulltexts
  5. ^ Dunham, Mike (December 19, 1993). "Caroling Into Christmas Insurance Salesmen, Teachers Had A Hand In Writing Songs". Anchorage Daily News. p. G1. Retrieved November 28, 2014. (subscription required)
  6. ^ a b "Favorite carols have evolved over ages". St. Petersburg Times. December 20, 1997. p. 8. Retrieved November 29, 2014.[permanent dead link](subscription required)
  7. ^ a b Flanagan, Mike (December 19, 1986). "The origins of Christmas Songs". Ottawa Citizen. p. H1. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  8. ^ Oldfield, Molly; Mitchinson, John (December 24, 2013). "QI: some quite interesting facts about Christmas carols". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved December 26, 2013.

External links