Tuesday, December 20, 2005

What child is this?

Photo
"Baby Jesus" by Deborah Woodall (c) 2005
(click link to see her blog)

I have no idea who Deborah is. She posts these beautiful paintings to her blog yet remains anonymous to us all. Click on the painting to link to her site.

The original author of the English folk tune, Greensleeves, the melody behind this Christmas Carol, may also remain a mystery forever. However, it is well known that the words of this carol were penned by William Dix in 1865.

Although you don't hear the words in my recording, I most definitely was thinking them as I played the music. And even though my version sounds almost sad, in fact, this carol is actually written in a minor key. When it's slowed down like this, it sounds very brooding.. but instead, I like to think of it as contemplative.

Ask any mother, childbirth is an exciting time, but it is also very exhausting. The last chorus of this carol indicates that Mary is singing to the baby. I'm sure she was happy yet tired. This particular little baby had a big mission ahead of him, and so far He was off to a rough start...

So, sleep little child...

Raise, raise a song on high,
The virgin sings her lullaby.
Joy, joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary

Click to open music in a mini-window What child is this.Mp3 arrangement (c) 2006 William Cushman (5:28 / 5.1Mb)
To directly download to your computer click this icon:Click here to download a .zip file of this .Mp3 direcly to your computer

*New* - for a copy of the sheet music of this arrangement - Click HERE for a pdf copy ..Please note that this arrangement is Copyright protected and cannot be published without permission.
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Want to use this piece in your project or website - royalty & commercial free at no cost?
Just ask.

Send me a quick email: Email

-Bill

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Very emotional Bill.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful site Bill. Thanks for sharing. Merry Christmas :)

Dana

Snowbear said...

Stumbled onto your site via NEXT BLOG; I've been looking for some background music for my sites for awhile now. I'm using some from here; very nice work you've got going on. LINKING BACK!!!

Anonymous said...

This entry certainly deserves to be on: http://wikilog.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

From Colombia, Congratulations and Thanks for this site. Your music and all is sincerely a good work, you put here your spirit and love. I send to you good luck and go ahead in this project.
Maria

Peter said...

Here's a picture of the artist along with a collection of her paintings:
http://www.sonstudios.com/deb.html

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