What Child Is This? ✧
The Greensleeves carol melody, with its lilting rhythm, expressive chromatic turns and complete refrain.
Sheet music
Tap a staff note or finger tab to hear it.
What child is this?
Whom angels greet
This, this is Christ the King
Haste, haste
D whistle · B minor · 6/8 · 55 BPM · + upper octave
What child is this?
Whom angels greet
This, this is Christ the King
Haste, haste
Lyrics
William Chatterton Dix · first verse and refrain in the 1871 score
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.
About this tune
William Chatterton Dix’s Christmas words are sung to the traditional English melody Greensleeves. Bramley and Stainer printed this setting in Christmas Carols New and Old in 1871.
The tune alternates a lilting verse with a higher refrain. Its raised notes give the closing phrases their distinctive sound.