What Child Is This? Clarinet Notes
Letter notes in the written key for B♭ clarinet, with the words under each note. Starts A C D E F E.
The notes and words
Key: G major for B♭ clarinet (written pitch). It sounds in F major, so it plays along with a piano in F.
AWhatCChildDisEthisFEwho,
DlaidBtoGrestABOnCMa-Ary'sAlapG♯AisBsleep-Eing?
AWhomCan-DgelsEgreetFEwithDan-BthemsGsweet,
ABWhileCshep-BAherdsG♯watchF♯G♯areAkeep-Aing?
GThis,GthisF♯EisDChristBtheGKing,
ABWhomCshep-AherdsAguardG♯AandBan-GgelsEsing;
GHaste,Ghaste,F♯EtoDbringBHimGlaud,
ABTheCBabe,BAtheG♯SonF♯G♯ofAMa-Ary.
Key: C major for B♭ clarinet (written pitch). It sounds in B♭ major, so it plays along with a piano in B♭.
DWhatFChildGisAthisA♯Awho,
GlaidEtoCrestDEOnFMa-Dry'sDlapC♯DisEsleep-Aing?
DWhomFan-GgelsAgreetA♯AwithGan-EthemsCsweet,
DEWhileFshep-EDherdsC♯watchBC♯areDkeep-Ding?
C↑This,C↑thisB↑AisGChristEtheCKing,
DEWhomFshep-DherdsDguardC♯DandEan-CgelsAsing;
C↑Haste,C↑haste,B↑AtoGbringEHimClaud,
DETheFBabe,EDtheC♯SonBC♯ofDMa-Dry.
Notes marked ↑ are above B♭4 and cross the break (use the register key).
Key: B♭ major for B♭ clarinet (written pitch). It sounds in A♭ major, so it plays along with a piano in A♭.
CWhatE♭ChildFisGthisA♭Gwho,
FlaidDtoB♭restCDOnE♭Ma-Cry'sClapBCisDsleep-Ging?
CWhomE♭an-FgelsGgreetA♭GwithFan-DthemsB♭sweet,
CDWhileE♭shep-DCherdsBwatchABareCkeep-Cing?
B♭This,B♭thisAGisFChristDtheB♭King,
CDWhomE♭shep-CherdsCguardBCandDan-B♭gelsGsing;
B♭Haste,B♭haste,AGtoFbringDHimB♭laud,
CDTheE♭Babe,DCtheBSonABofCMa-Cry.
Key: A major for B♭ clarinet (written pitch). It sounds in G major, so it plays along with a piano in G.
BWhatDChildEisF♯thisGF♯who,
ElaidC♯toArestBC♯OnDMa-Bry'sBlapA♯BisC♯sleep-F♯ing?
BWhomDan-EgelsF♯greetGF♯withEan-C♯themsAsweet,
BC♯WhileDshep-C♯BherdsA♯watchG♯A♯areBkeep-Bing?
AThis,AthisG♯F♯isEChristC♯theAKing,
BC♯WhomDshep-BherdsBguardA♯BandC♯an-AgelsF♯sing;
AHaste,Ahaste,G♯F♯toEbringC♯HimAlaud,
BC♯TheDBabe,C♯BtheA♯SonG♯A♯ofBMa-Bry.
Staff notation
Play-along guide: the melody played by your browser’s clarinet sound, at concert pitch. The lit note follows the music. Print large notes
About this song
- Melody
- Tune GREENSLEEVES, Traditional English, 1600
- Words
- William Chatterton Dix (1837–1898), 1865 (first verse shown; all verses on HymnKeys)
- Public domain
- Melody 1600, words 1865: first published before 1931.
- Source
- Open Hymnal Project file marked public domain, via HymnKeys
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