What Child Is This?

"What Child Is This?" is a Christmas carol whose lyrics were written by William Chatterton Dix, in 1865. At the time of composing the carol, Dix worked as an insurance company manager and had been struck by a severe illness. While recovering, he underwent a spiritual renewal that led him to write several hymns, including lyrics to this carol that was subsequently set to the tune of "Greensleeves", a traditional English folk song. Although it was written in Great Britain, the carol is more popular in the United States than in its country of origin today.[1]

What Child Is This?
GenreHymn
Written1865
TextWilliam Chatterton Dix
Based onIsaiah 9:6-7
Meter8.7.8.7 with refrain
Melody"Greensleeves"
Published1871

Lyrics

Composition

The lyrics of the carol are taken from a poem written by Dix called "The Manger Throne".[1][2] The part of the poem that was utilized as the song's lyrics consists of three stanzas in total.[1] The first verse poses a rhetorical question in the first half, with the response coming in the second half. The second verse contains another question that is answered, while the final verse is a universal appeal to everyone urging them "to accept Christ".[3] The carol's melody has been described as "soulful",[1] "haunting and beautiful" in nature.[4]

Context

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

Background and influence

At the time he was writing the lyrics to "What Child Is This?" in 1865, William Chatterton Dix was working as the manager of an insurance company.[5] He was afflicted by an unexpected and severe illness that resulted in him being bedridden and suffering from severe depression. His near-death experience brought about a spiritual renewal in him while he was recovering. During this time, he read the Bible comprehensively and was inspired to author hymns like "Alleluia! Sing to Jesus!" and "As with Gladness Men of Old".[1][4] 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.[4]

History

Although written in 1865, "What Child Is This?" was only first published six years later in 1871, when it featured in Christmas Carols Old and New,[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"[3] – may have done so.[1][3]

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References
  1. Stories of the Great Christmas Carols. Alfred Music Publishing. pp. 47–48.
  2. Reynolds, Virginia (June 1, 2000). Spirit of Christmas: A History of Our Best-Loved Carols. Peter Pauper Press, Inc. p. 51.
  3. Crump, William D. (September 15, 2001). The Christmas Encyclopedia, chloe ed. McFarland. pp. 437–438.
  4. Liebergen, Patrick M. (ed.). Singer's Library of Song: Medium Voice. Alfred Music Publishing. p. 164.
  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. "Favorite carols have evolved over ages". St. Petersburg Times. December 20, 1997. p. 8. Retrieved November 29, 2014. (subscription required)
  7. 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.
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