A BOTB Christmas Edition: What Child Is This?

Posted on December 15, 2023
The Nativity scene is part of the Gaylor Opryland Ice! display that we saw while in Nashville last week

In 1865 William Chatterton Dix wrote the words of today’s battle song, What Child Is This, while recuperating after a near death experience which lead him to a spiritual reawakening.  The song is set to a traditional English folk tune “Greensleeves” and while the song was written in Great Britian, the classic is more popular in the United States.  It also happens to be one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs. 

In today’s battle, I’m using two instrumental arrangements.  A word of warning the videos could persuade your decision, so you may wish to turn your eyes away for each version to let your heart and ears be the judge.

The two artists I’m using don’t need any introduction.  The first contender is The Piano Guys and the second is Lindsey Stirling. Please listen! 

The Piano Guys


Lindsey Stirling

Polls close at noon (ET) on Dec 21!

I want y’all to know that the results from my last BOTB that I shared on Wednesday wasn’t accurate. I totally goofed up.  I plugged in a quick announcement as soon as this came to my attention but I wanted to share the new findings with you.  Basically, I missed two votes.  I failed to jot Mimi’s down and Willow’s vote was stuck in “spam”. Both ladies voted for We Banjo 3 making them the winner.  One more time, lets listen to their Joy to the World cover!

I appreciate your visit, dear friend.  I will do my best to not mess things up next time in my results post and plan to share the results next Friday, if it doesn’t slip my mind.  Meanwhile,  I hope you’ll go check out the other battle showdowns underway.  You’ll find the participants of this little shindig listed in my side bar beneath the BOTB banner. You’re invited to join me on the Monday’s Music Moves Me dance floor.  This is CAAC signing off, have a bandtastic day!  X💋X💋, Cathy

Which artist rendition do you prefer, The Piano Guys or Lindsey Stirling? Leave your vote in comments!


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22 thoughts on “A BOTB Christmas Edition: What Child Is This?”

  1. Both are great but I’m going for Lindsey who just has a unique style and I enjoyed it a bit more. Love that last tune too

  2. Christmas CAThy!

    I loves this song. Always have, always will. And both renditions were beautifully done, making it tough for me to decide between them. When ‘Black Friday’ push comes to shove, I s’pose I’ll give my vote to Lindsey Stirling. I never heard o’ her before, but the way she put a bit more green in the sleeves was the deciding factor for me.

    You and yourn git a Wonderful Christmas & a Jovial New Year.
    (I get kinda tired of saying “Merry Christmas” & “Happy New Year”, so I sorta deviate from it at times, kind of like a rebel would.)

    ~ D-FensDogG
    Ye Olde Christmas Canine

    1. Stephen,

      Merry Christmas to you, my friend! This battle turned out tighter than I imagined. Your vote for Lindsey Stirling makes it a lock battle. The question is, will someone come along to break it?

  3. The ice sculpture is stunning! I like both and took your advice to just listen. My vote goes to The Piano Guys.

  6. I did a special Christmas Battle as well. Seemed like the thing to do and since others are doing it I guess my thought was correct.

    This is my wife’s favorite Christmas song and one that I enjoy as well.

    I’m a big fan of violin since I play one, but I do love the tone of a cello.

    I’m giving my vote to The Piano Guys.

    Lee

  7. I thought they were both excellent, and was surprised that the violin and the cello sounded so similar. I give this one to Lindsey Stirling: I just connected with hers more.

  9. I took your advice too and just listened. Both are fabulous and my vote goes to Lindsey Stirling. I could feel the passion.

    Have a fabulous day and weekend, Cathy. Love and hugs. ♥

  10. Lovely ice sculpture! Greensleeves is a favourite of mine – such a beautiful, haunting melody! 💖 Both instrumentals were excellent, but I preferred the mellower Piano Guys. Plus, they stuck to the original arrangement. Kudos to Lindsey for her creativity, though. 🙂

    I have a rare mid month battle up as well. Come on by and check it out if you have time. 🙂

    1. Debbie,

      I don’t like it usually when artists deviate from a classic song, especially Christmas music. I put your name down beside The Piano Guys. Thanks for stopping by to vote, my dear!

    1. Willow,

      You had me intrigued with the mention of Henry VIII. We watched The Tudors series awhile back. It was good, too. I remember reading somewhere years ago that the King was a songwriter or maybe, I picked that up form the TV series but anyway, you might find it interesting what Wikipedia has to say…It is a romantic myth that Henry wrote the song for his lover and future queen consort Anne Boleyn. The piece is based on an Italian style of composition that did not reach England until after Henry’s death, making it more likely to be Elizabethan in origin. The melody is beautiful. I found it interesting as I continued reading that Greensleeves (1580), the melody, What Child Is This adapted was not associated with Christmas until 100 years after its introduction in England.

      I have you down for The Piano Guys. Thanks for voting and for sharing the video. It sort of makes me want to see The Tudors again. 🙂

      1. What a twit I am I always thought that that was true…. Well I have looked it up on Wiki and yes you’re right he didn’t write it though he did pen or quill song 😄. That will teach me not to check things out!
        Yes I voted for the Piano Guys have a good week 💜💜👍

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