“What Child Is This? - Advanced Piano Arrangement No. 2” is classified as a Level 7 Piano work worth 78,300 points within the Road to Virtuosity progression system. It is categorized under Advanced Piano Arrangements → Hymns, Hymns - Christmas and is part of the Sacred collection. The sheet music for “What Child Is This? - Advanced Piano Arrangement No. 2” provided on this website is available for non-commercial use. This means it may be downloaded, printed, studied, and performed for personal or educational purposes, but it may not be sold, redistributed commercially, or used as part of a paid product without permission.
“What Child Is This?” is arranged here as an advanced piano solo with a flowing 6/8 character and a broad five-page build. The arrangement begins with a clear statement of the melody over light broken accompaniment, then gradually expands into fuller arpeggiated motion, thicker harmony, chordal writing, and a final return that settles back into a quieter ending.
Measures 1–20 present the opening statement of the tune. The right hand carries the melody in a clear, lyrical line while the left hand supports with light broken motion underneath. The texture is open and gentle at first, with the 6/8 meter giving the music a steady rocking flow.
Measures 21–38 continue the main material with more active accompaniment. The left hand becomes more involved with wider broken patterns, while the right hand keeps the melody above it. By measures 30–38, the texture grows into faster repeated-note motion in the upper register, giving the arrangement more energy without losing the song-like character.
Measures 39–53 form the most active flowing section. The right hand uses continuous broken figures and repeated patterns while the left hand keeps the harmonic foundation moving underneath. This section gives the arrangement a more pianistic sound, moving beyond a simple hymn or carol setting.
Measures 54–68 bring in a broader chordal texture. The right hand uses fuller chords and stronger harmonic shapes, while the left hand continues with arpeggiated motion below. This section has more weight than the earlier pages, creating the main build before the final return.
Measures 69–82 close the arrangement by returning to a quieter version of the main material. The music relaxes after the bigger chordal section, with a rit. marking and a final 8va phrase near the end. The last measures fade into a simple, settled close instead of ending with a large dramatic cadence.
Interesting fact: “What Child Is This?” uses the same melody as the English folk tune “Greensleeves.” That gives the carol a very old, recognizable sound, even though the Christmas text was written much later by William Chatterton Dix in the 1800s.
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