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What Child Is This? sheet music

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Select a link below to jump to one of the following arrangements of What Child Is This?:
Piano • Wind and brass instruments • String instruments • Recorder • Lyrics • Lead sheet with chords

The lyrics of What Child is This? were written in 1865 by Englishman William Chatterton Dix, who lived from 1837 to 1898. Unlike many of the writers of Christmas carols, Dix’s career was not centered around the church, and he was not a preacher or minister -- by profession, he was the manager of a marine insurance company, and he spent his spare time writing poetry. He chose to set his poem to the song Greensleeves, which was composed anonymously during the Elizabethan era, or perhaps even earlier than that.

This version of What Child is This? is in the key of E minor. Along with God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen, it is one of the few Christmas carols that is in a minor key. Unlike the aforementioned carol, it is very somber in tone.

Note that in measures 18 and 26, there is a C sharp in the melody. Some versions of the carol have a C natural instead. Since the song was written approximately 500 years ago, and we don’t know who composed the melody, it is hard to say which note is correct. However, in this case I have chosen C sharp because it sounds a little bit happier than the C natural : ) Merry Christmas!

Select the song image below for a printable PDF of What Child Is This? or scroll down for links to many more arrangements in seven different keys in treble, bass, and alto clefs. There are also woodwind and brass arrangements of the carol in the key of concert A minor, and string arrangements in the key of E minor. You can also view and print the lyrics to What Child Is This?

For a countdown to Christmas, visit the How Many Days Until Christmas page. The Two Happy Bears are excited about the holiday and are eagerly counting every second!

You can also practice all of your Christmas music with a sleigh bell metronome!

Tap the image of the sheet music for a full-size PDF of What Child Is This?

Play-Along arrangements of What Child Is This? These pages have versions of the carol for band and string instruments for you to play with other musicians:

What Child Is This? for winds and brass
What Child Is This? for strings
What Child Is This? for recorder
What Child Is This? for piano

More keys! Select a link below for a printable PDF of What Child Is This? in any of the following keys, for treble, bass, and alto clef.

Treble clef versions of What Child Is This?:

In the key of A
In the key of B
In the key of C
In the key of D
In the key of E
In the key of F sharp
In the key of G

Bass clef versions of What Child Is This?:

In the key of A
In the key of B
In the key of C
In the key of D
In the key of E
In the key of F sharp
In the key of G

Alto clef versions of What Child Is This?:

In the key of A
In the key of B
In the key of C
In the key of D
In the key of E
In the key of F sharp
In the key of G

Christmas music for selected instruments

Select an image below to view and print Christmas songs written for each instrument.

Violin

Viola

Cello

Bass

Flute

Oboe

Clarinet

Bassoon

Alto Saxophone

Tenor Saxophone

Trumpet

Trombone

French Horn

Tuba

Recorder

Piano

Guitar

Lyrics

Piano Accompaniments

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Table of Contents for the Christmas Song Lead Sheets:

Angels We Have Heard on High
Auld Lang Syne
Away In a Manger
Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabella
Deck the Hall
Ding Dong! Merrily on High
The First Noel
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Good Christian Men, Rejoice
Good King Wenceslas
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
Here We Come A-Wassailing
The Holly and the Ivy
I Saw Three Ships
In Dulci Jubilo
In the Bleak Midwinter
It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
Jingle Bells (short easy version)
Jingle Bells (full version)
Jolly Old St. Nicholas
Joy to the World
O Christmas Tree
O Come All Ye Faithful
O Come, O Come Emmanuel
O Holy Night
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Patapan
Quelle Est Cette Odeur Agréable
Silent Night
Toyland
The Twelve Days of Christmas
Up on the Housetop
We Three Kings
We Wish You a Merry Christmas
What Child Is This?