What Child Is This? (First Noël Prelude)

Two carols share one track. "The First Noël" comes first, with angels bringing word to "certain poor shepherds" in the fields on a cold winter night, and a refrain declaring "Born is the King of Israel." The turn into "What Child Is This?" shifts from announcement to wonder, asking who the baby sleeping on Mary's lap could be while angels greet Him with "anthems sweet."

The answer comes plainly: "This, this is Christ the King," the Babe who is also "the Son of Mary." Divinity and humanity sit in a single line. The next verse widens the scene beyond the manger, calling for incense, gold and myrrh and asking that "loving hearts enthrone Him," so the gifts of the Magi become an invitation to ordinary listeners to worship.

The final verse hands the song to Mary ("The virgin sings her lullaby") and ends on "Joy, joy for Christ is born." The shepherds echo Luke 2, the gifts echo Matthew 2, and the title of King recalls Isaiah's promise of a child given. The words follow the traditional carol texts, and the medley moves from the angels' news to a personal welcome of the newborn King.