What Child Is This

John Stainer (1840–1901) · Romantic

At a glance

Voicing
SATB
Language of the text
English
Key
E minor
Genre
Christmas carol
Season
Christmas
Series
Choir
Available voices
Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
Score
PDMX / MuseScore, Public domain licence

Chapters, Soprano part

  1. Intro
  2. FIRST LISTEN — the whole piece, all voices
  3. RHYTHM READING — the words in rhythm, on one note
  4. SLOW — your part only
  5. FULL TEMPO — your part only
  6. IN PAIRS — your part and Alto
  7. WITH THE CHOIR — your part highlighted
  8. BALANCE CHECK — all voices equal
  9. End screen

Chapters, Alto part

  1. Intro
  2. FIRST LISTEN — the whole piece, all voices
  3. RHYTHM READING — the words in rhythm, on one note
  4. SLOW — your part only
  5. FULL TEMPO — your part only
  6. IN PAIRS — your part and Soprano
  7. WITH THE CHOIR — your part highlighted
  8. BALANCE CHECK — all voices equal
  9. End screen

Chapters, Tenor part

  1. Intro
  2. FIRST LISTEN — the whole piece, all voices
  3. RHYTHM READING — the words in rhythm, on one note
  4. SLOW — your part only
  5. FULL TEMPO — your part only
  6. IN PAIRS — your part and Basso
  7. WITH THE CHOIR — your part highlighted
  8. BALANCE CHECK — all voices equal
  9. End screen

Chapters, Bass part

  1. Intro
  2. FIRST LISTEN — the whole piece, all voices
  3. RHYTHM READING — the words in rhythm, on one note
  4. SLOW — your part only
  5. FULL TEMPO — your part only
  6. IN PAIRS — your part and Tenore
  7. WITH THE CHOIR — your part highlighted
  8. BALANCE CHECK — all voices equal
  9. End screen

Practise with the player

Notes on the piece

The text is by William Chatterton Dix (1865) and the tune is the old “Greensleeves”; John Stainer's harmonisation appeared in Christmas Carols New and Old (1871).

Written with AI assistance

Text and translations

Original text · English

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 Christians, 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.

Source of the text: en.wikisource.org

Score

The source and licence of the score are acknowledged; the editions below are for cross-checking.

PDMX / MuseScore · Licence: Public domain

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