Description:

“What Child Is This? - Lead Sheet - Key Of E Minor” is classified as a Level 4 Piano work worth 2,780 points within the Road to Virtuosity progression system. It is categorized under Lead Sheets → Hymns - Christmas and is part of the Composition/Improvisation collection. The sheet music for “What Child Is This? - Lead Sheet - Key Of E Minor” 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? - Lead Sheet - E Minor” is a Christmas carol lead sheet based on the traditional English melody “Greensleeves,” with words by William Chatterton Dix. This version is written in E minor and 3/4, with the melody, lyrics, and chord symbols shown above the staff. Since the accompaniment is not fully written out, the performer uses the printed chords to create an original arrangement. The score includes three verses of lyrics and uses familiar harmonies such as Em, G, D, Bm, C, and B7.

Measures 1–6 present the opening question, “What Child is this who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping?” The melody is written as a single treble-clef line, while the chord symbols outline the harmony underneath. The opening moves through Em, G, D, Bm, C, and B7, giving the performer a clear minor-key foundation for improvising an accompaniment.

Measures 7–10 continue the verse with “Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping?” The melody keeps the gentle triple-meter motion of the tune, and the chords return through Em, G, D, Bm, and B7 before settling back toward Em. This phrase gives the verse a calm and questioning character.

Measures 11–18 begin the refrain: “This, this is Christ the King, whom shepherds guard and angels sing.” The melody rises with a stronger, more declarative shape, while the harmony moves through G, D, Bm, Em, C, and B7. This section creates the main emotional lift of the carol.

Measures 19–28 complete the refrain with “Haste, haste to bring Him laud, the Babe, the Son of Mary.” The melody continues in the same flowing 3/4 style, and the chord symbols lead through G, D, Bm, Em, and B7 before returning to the final Em resolution. Since this is a lead sheet, the ending may be played simply or expanded with a fuller improvised cadence.

Interesting fact: “What Child Is This?” was written by William Chatterton Dix in 1865 and is traditionally sung to the English folk tune “Greensleeves.” The pairing of Dix’s Christmas text with this older melody helped make the carol one of the most recognizable Christmas hymns in English-speaking churches.

How to earn points for this piece:

1. Practice and learn to play the piece. Then improvise your own arrangement.

2. You must play 3 verses only - each verse must be significantly different from the other. (Use different Left Hand techniques, or add embellishments, etc...)

3. Watch the video to see example of improvisation, and check your own arrangement for accuracy. (Your arrangement may be easier or harder than the video example, or be in a different key - and that is okay. You can still submit.)

4. Record yourself playing and upload it to Youtube.

5. Submit a link to your video here for evaluation.

6. Collect your points!