What Child Is This?
What Child Is This? | |
---|---|
Genre | Hymn |
Written | 1865 |
Text | William Chatterton Dix |
Based on | Isaiah 9:6-7 |
Meter | 8.7.8.7 with refrain |
Melody | "Greensleeves" |
Published | 1871 |
"What Child Is This?" is a
Lyrics
Composition
The first
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.
Background and influence
At the time he was writing the lyrics to "What Child Is This?" in 1865,
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
- ^ ISBN 9781457419348.
- ^ ISBN 9781476605739.
- ^ ISBN 9781457421723.
- ^ https://hymnary.org/text/what_child_is_this_who_laid_to_rest/fulltexts
- ^ 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)
- ^ 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)
- ^ a b Flanagan, Mike (December 19, 1986). "The origins of Christmas Songs". Ottawa Citizen. p. H1. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
- ^ Oldfield, Molly; Mitchinson, John (December 24, 2013). "QI: some quite interesting facts about Christmas carols". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
External links
- What Child is This on Hymnary.org with all representative texts
- Free sheet music of What Child Is This? for SATB from Cantorion.org
- What Child Is This? Archived 2012-04-07 at the Wayback Machine on TradTune.com
- What Child is This? by Thomas Hewitt Jones at OUP
- What Child Is This? by Sojourn Music
- What Child is This? by Jessie Galante & Giuseppe Galante