Despite my love for Christmas karaoke, I am not a trained musician. My ears are unfit to distinguish a mediocre melody from a magnificent one. Still, when it comes to Christmas carols, I consider myself a strong judge of excellence on the basis of spiritual and emotional resonance. What songs evoke powerful feelings of longing, wonder, curiosity and hope in this blessed season of waiting?
In other words, what songs bring us closest to Christ?
The final episode of Season 4 of “Hark!” looks at one such song: “What Child is This?”. Those familiar with this beloved carol might recognize Josh Groban’s famous rendition, or perhaps prefer the smooth, jazzy interpretation performed by the Vince Guaraldi Trio of “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Whichever version is your favorite, “What Child Is This?” stands out in the repertoire of Christmas music for its deeply moving musicality.
I recall how its hauntingly beautiful refrain—a rich, harmonic blend of fiddle and penny whistle, harps, bodhran, layered jingle bells and drums—would boom through the speakers in my living room as we embarked on my favorite Christmas tradition, an annual unboxing of my mother’s massive collection of painted wooden Christmas carolers.
This, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
On the morning of Black Friday, my family of five would gather by the fireplace to free 100 8-inch statues from their bubble wrap blankets. After two hours of holiday teamwork, the decades-deep collection would cover every mantel, table and bookshelf in sight.
Looking at the carolers’ open mouths and handheld hymnals, I always imagined them singing along to whatever Christmas tune played on the radio. Whenever the lush chords of “What Child Is This?” resounded through the room, I felt overcome by awe at the song’s themes of divine majesty juxtaposed with a humble setting.
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?So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh
Come peasant, king to own Him
The King of kings salvation brings
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
“What Child Is This?” is set to the tune of the 16th-century English folk song “Greensleeves,” rumored to have been written by Henry VIII for his future love, Anne Boleyn. Though the validity of this link has been disputed (listen to “Hark!” to learn more), it’s entirely true that the man who wrote the carol we know today—William Chatterton Dix, an insurance manager in Bristol, England—was greatly inspired by traditional English folk songs. After a near-death experience and a bout of sickness that caused a spiritual awakening, Dix decided to utilize the melody of “Greensleeves” to create the beloved carol in 1865.
Throughout the carol, an anchoring pattern of rhetorical questions offers us a tool to contend with the mystery of Christ’s birth. One of the most compelling aspects of “What Child Is This?” is how its lyrics enhance its musicality, and vice versa. Organic and alive, the song’s triple meter lends a lilting, dance-like quality that contrasts with the introspective nature of the melody. The minor key ultimately underscores the gravity of the question and the resolution in major harmonies—an interplay that offers an answer rooted in hope: “This, this is Christ the King.”
While I can only imagine the voices of my mother’s wooden Christmas carolers, I can listen to renditions of “What Child Is This?” with real voices that stir my soul. Live performances often begin with a soft, almost whisper-like delivery, drawing listeners into the intimate setting of the nativity scene. As the carol progresses, dynamics may swell to reflect the growing awe and reverence for the Christ Child.
While “What Child Is This?” is an explicitly Christmas song, the tune speaks to the mystery of identity and purpose—questions that transcend religious boundaries and appeal to the human experience. Who are we? What is our place in the world? How do we respond to love and sacrifice, not only during Christmas time, but in all seasons?
