- Level: Early intermediate
- Pages: 7 pages, 5 pages of music, cover included
- Style: Reflective
- License: Studio license – reproducible for students you directly teach
- Bonus: mp3 recording without voiceovers
- Format: PDF instant download
What Child Is This? is a tender, moving solo full of dynamic contrast that not only gives the audience space to think about the message, but musically invites them to do so. Sprinkled throughout is a rhythmic motif that hints at Carol of the Bells, adding to the mysterious nature of the piece.
The eighth note rhythm in the left hand sounds like the heartbeat of a new baby who leads us to ask the question, “What Child is this?” During the chorus, whose lyrics are “This is Christ the King”, those eighth note rhythms move to a higher register in the right hand. It’s the perfect reminder and metaphor for “God with Us” – a King who came down to experience the full vulnerability of being a baby.
The Level of What Child is This?
What Child Is This? early intermediate will be easy enough for the early intermediate pianist to play musically. The smallest note value is an eighth note. It is written in d minor, with a key signature written in (one flat). Additional accidentals are written in, as well as helpful courtesy accidentals when the flat returns. The piece is in triple meter, and pedal markings are written in. Both hands play both treble and bass clef throughout the piece, and multiple registers are explored. Fingerings are written in throughout the piece.
What is a Studio License?
What Child Is This early intermediate is available as a studio license which means that you only have to purchase it one time, and you are then licensed to print as many prints as you need for yourself or any student you directly teach! It’s like getting an unlimited supply of the piece since you never have to pay for it again. Plus there is no shipping. You get the PDF and bonus mp3 in your email within minutes of your purchase.
Free Bonus Recording
What Child Is This early intermediate also comes with a free mp3 recording so that you can listen and learn the piece more easily. You are granted permission to share this file with your students that are learning the piece.
Kelly –
This is a gorgeous and luscious intermediate rendition of this Christmas favorite. Wendy has such a gift for not only setting the piece in a beautiful arrangement, but also making it comfortable and playable, as well as interlacing a haunting intro, this time a fun quote of Carol of the Bells. Bonus idea: a very precocious student of mine was learning this piece as well as Wendy’s intermediate Carol of the Bells arrangement. One day she figured out that when she finished this piece, with the D minor Carol of the Bells phrase, this she could repeat the final measure and key change it up to E minor, and continue right into Carol of the Bells! So now she has a two song medley for the winter recital!
Nancy Saunders –
This is a wonderfully arranged Christmas piece that my students are loving! The patterns fit comfortably for the hands, and it combines the expressive and poignant nuances beautifully. Great job, Wendy!
Carol Benninghoff –
A couple of my students are throughly enjoying this arrangement and I plan to play it on Christmas Eve. A beautiful melody with left handed tied fifths. The low bass octave jumps are the most challenging but good for my two students who are learning this. I love the minor key and the staff changes – so many good things about this piece. Will use it every year!
Vivien Jackson –
I love this arrangement! Here in the UK this tune is more commonly known as Greensleeves and is rarely sung as a carol. However, I introduced it to the local community choir I play for and added a repeated section in the middle so that they could sing all 3 verses of the carol. They loved it and we performed it for the Hurley Women’s Institute where it went down really well and the parts everyone loved were the piano sections between verses and at the end. Thank you Wendy!
Linda –
This piece and the Joy to the World with Trepak were great. My students enjoyed working on them and I used them in our Christmas recital
Swan Kiezebrink –
This is a wonderful arrangement, and one that I had a bit of coordination problems with when I went through to read it…! The timing is simple, yet just difficult enough to give a bit of a learning curve, but so fulfilling and wonderful to play and listen to. It adds to the melodious effect of this simple tune. A beautiful arrangement.
nancyarnold710 –
Only in September and already students are asking for this! Beautiful arrangement! Beautiful to listen to and satisfying to play!
Chara –
I have a small studio in Cyprus with 25 students but every year they are waiting on your perfect piano sheets!! An adult student of mine is working on What child is this and he and I loves it!!!!
ambersaldivar –
This is such a beautiful arrangement, and it’s not too hard for intermediate students! They love it!
Tricia Martinez –
Beautiful
Valerie –
Haunting, beautiful melody! A great fit for early intermediate students. So grateful for a rich arrangement at this level!