

PATRICK HAWES
What Child Is This?
for unaccompanied SATB choir
Vocal Score
ISBN 978-1-910623-72-5
forperusalonly
Published by Hawes Music Ltd
© 2023 Hawes Music Ltd.
www.hawesmusic.com
All Rights Reserved.
No part of this publication may be copied or reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior permission of Hawes Music Ltd.
Printed in the United Kingdom by Caligraving Ltd, Thetford, Norfolk.
PATRICK HAWES
What Child Is This?
for unaccompanied SATB choir
Duration: circa 4 minutes
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?
forperusalonly
Refrain:
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. Refrain
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh, Come, peasant, king to own Him. The King of kings salvation brings; Let loving hearts enthrone Him. Refrain
Words: William Chatterton Dix (1837 – 1898)
Composer’s Note
Choirs should feel free to work towards their own interpretation of this relatively straightforward strophic carol. The tempo is fairly flexible and there are no set dynamic markings. However, care should be taken to mirror the text’s juxtaposition of question and answer as well as the contrasting moods of each verse. It may be interesting to note that the premiere performance asked the questions at a quieter dynamic than the ensuing answers, and the last verse began with a confident forte.
What Child Is This?William Chatterton Dix PATRICK HAWES
4 4 4
? b & b # < b> n
an gels - greet with an thems - sweet, While shep herds - watch are kee ping? -
? b n n n & b
Chorus: Christ, shep -
10 bring him laud, The Babe, the Son of Ma r y, - the Babe, the Son of Ma r y! -
# Haste, ? b & b ? b n
Chorus ˙ ˙ œ œ œœ ˙ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙ œ ˙ ˙ œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ nœ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙œ œ ˙ ˙ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ nœ ˙ ˙ œœ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙ œ œ ˙ ˙
1. What Child is this, who laid to rest, On Ma r y ’s - lap is slee ping? - Whom
2 Why lies He in such mean estate, Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here The silent Word is pleading.
Chorus
3 So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh, Come, peasant, king to own Him. The King of kings salvation brings; Let loving hearts enthrone Him
forperusalonly
forperusalonly
Also available from Hawes Music:
Behold The King for SATB choir and organ
Four Christmas Motets
Virga Jesse | Puer Natus | Nesciens Mater | Gaudete Omnes for unaccompanied SATB choir
King Jesus Hath A Garden for SSAA and organ
Let Us Love for SATB choir and piano
Lullay My Liking for unaccompanied ATBarB choir
Peace Beyond Thought
for unaccompanied SATB choir
The Edenham Eucharist a communion setting (Common Worship, Order One) for celebrant, congregation, organ and optional SATB choir The Nativity
The Manger | The Infant | The Oxen | The Shepherds | The Star | The Magi for unaccompanied SATB choir
ISBN 978-1-910623-72-5
HM 0072
9781910623725
