Hymns around the piano 🎹 - What Child Is This?

Hymns around the piano 🎹 - What Child Is This?
If anyone knew the name of the 16th century English carol "(My Lady) Greensleeves," when asked at a musical assembly in Junior High, no one raised their hand. Sir John Stainer set the beautiful tune to three verses of the poem The Manger Throne, written by William Chatterton Dix, an insurance manager, in 1865. We see he wrote over 40 hymns, some while feeling very low during an illness. He is the words to another Christmas carol "As With Gladness, Men of Old" and "Alleluia Sing to Jesus" (used with Hyfrydol, the tune to "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus"). What Child Is This?, telling of the birth of Jesus, first appeared as a hymn in 1871.

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.
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring Him laud
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
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing
Haste, haste to bring Him laud
The babe, the Son of Mary

Arranged by: Marilynn Ham
earphones recommended