Greensleeves

jig

Key signature: Gmajor

Submitted on April 17th 2003 by tufbo.

This tune has been added to 111 tunebooks.

Also known as Al Labous Mary, Green Sleeves, Greensleeves And Pudding Pies, What Child Is This.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

• A Celtic Heritage by Marcille Wallis
• A Cheste Of Fyne Jewells by Diabolus In Musica
• A Drop Of Pure by Quilty
• Ag Cur Na Samhradh by Samhradh
• An Irish Piano Christmas by J.J. Sheridan
• Bach To Ireland by Vivian Minden And Julia Shaw
• Beltaine: Celtic Harp by Jennifer Van Der Harten
• Celtic Blessings by Celeste Howard
• Celtic Harp II: From A Distant Time by Patrick Ball
• Cnoc Bui by Conal Ó'Gráda
• En El Bosque Sin Retorno by Tocando El Aire
• En Passant by Queen's Gambit
• English Country Dances: Apollo's Banquet by Andrew Lawrence-King, David Douglas, Paul O'Dette
• Feet, Don't Fail Me Now by Boldwood
• Fiddles In The Cowshed by Lakeland Fiddlers
• Morris On by Morris On
• Rig-a-jig-jig: Dance Music Of The South Of England by Various Artists
• Songs Of The Muse by Brobdingnagian Bards
• Traditions by Maggie Sansone
• Vol. 1 - Celtic Secrets by Greg Joy
• Watkins Ale: Music Of The English Renaissance by Baltimore Consort

X: 1
T: Greensleeves
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Gmaj
E|G2A B3/2-c/B|A2F D3/2-E/F|G2E E3/2-^D/E|F2^D B,2E|
G2A B3/2-c/B|A2F D3/2-E/F|G3/2-F/E ^D3/2-^C/D|E3 E2z|
d3 d3/2-^c/B|A2F D3/2-E/-F|G2-E E3/2-^D/E|F2^D B,3|
d3 d3/2^c/B|A2F D3/2-E/F|G3/2F/E ^D3/2-^C/D|E3 E2z||

One of the best-known and best-loved of all ancient tunes, but I'm not sure whether there is a specific celtic origin, let alone Irish. One theory is that the tune was composed by King Henry VIII of England, who, amongst his other accomplishments, was apparently considered to be not a bad musician.
Trevor

# Posted on April 17th 2003 by lazyhound

Yeah, and was anyone going to tell him he wasn't?

# Posted on April 17th 2003 by Zina Lee

I've yet to come across this one in a session, but I have heard it said that it is of Irish origin. As Trevor says, it is sometimes attributed to Henry VIII (not an Irishman), but it is more likely that he was only responsible for the words to 'Greensleeves' (one of many poems that have been set to this air). I believe this or similar melodies appear in manuscripts, either as song airs or dance tunes, dating from before the reign of Henry VIII, some of them claiming it to be Irish.

# Posted on April 17th 2003 by CreadurMawnOrganig

There's an interesting version in O'Neil's that's written as a double jig.

# Posted on April 22nd 2003 by Rayzore

I put the alternative title it is the same but sung in Gaelic.

# Posted on April 27th 2004 by Why Bother?

Greensleeves in A Dorian

Here is an old West Country setting in A Dorian (given to me by my teacher), which shows the tune in a rather different light. This version also differs in significant respects from the more common version currently posted.

K:Ador
c2e c2e|d2B G2B|c2A A2A|B2G E3|
c2e c2e|d2B G2B|c2A B2G|1 A3 A2B:|2 A3 A3||
|:g3 gfe|d2B G3|g3 gfe|a2g e3|
g3 gfe|d2B G2B|c2A B2G|A3 A3:|

I would suggest this version is best played fairly slowly (3/8=80 to 90?), and with little ornamentation.

Trevor

# Posted on May 19th 2004 by lazyhound

Greensleeves in A dorian

My teacher got this version from Jim Small in Cheddar, Somerset.

Trevor

# Posted on May 20th 2004 by lazyhound

The music

This song is one of a few keltic songs known in Brazil. I really love this song, but here we know it very calm. Very slow and soft, especially with transversall flute.

# Posted on November 22nd 2004 by Bond from Brazil

Alternative version of Green sleeves

X:1
T:33. Green sleeves
C:trad
Q:"andante"
L:1/8
M:6/8
K:Ador

A | c2d e>fe | d2B G>AB | c2A A>GA | B2GE2 |
A | c2d e>fe | d2B G>AB |c>BA ^G>FG | A3-A2 :|
z | g2g gfe | d2B G>AB | c2A A>GA | B6 |
g2g gfe | d2B G>AB | c>BA ^G>FG | A3-A2 :|

"Variation"
A/B/ | c2c cde | dBG GAB | cBA ABc | BGE E2 A/B/ |
c2c cde | dBG GAB | cBA GE^G | A3A2:|
e/f/ | gag gfe | dBG GBd | aba aba | gee e2e/f/ |
gag gfe | dBG GAB | cBA GE^G | A3A2 :|

# Posted on March 13th 2007 by Falkbeer

Green sleeves to a ground - with variations

X:1
T:5. Greensleeves to a ground
C:anon.
Q:"Andante"
L:1/4
M:6/4
K:Amin

"C"c2de2e | "G"d2BG3 |"am"A>Bc dec | "E"B2^GE3 |
"C"c2de>dc | "G"d2BG>AB | "am"c>BA"E"~B>A^G | "am"A3-A3 |]

"var. 1"c>dee>fe | d>edB>cd | c>BcA>Bc | B>AB^G>AB |
c>dee>fg | d>edB>cd | cBA~^G>^FG | A3-A3 |]

"var. 2"g2ggfe | d2dBcd | c2cABc | B2B^GAB |
g2ggfe | d2dBcd | edcd~B2 |A3-A3 |]

"var. 3"e.c.A e.c.A | d.B.G d.B.G | e.c.A e.c.A | B.^G.E B.G.E |
g.e.cg.e.c | d.B.G d.B.G | e.c.A B.^G.E | A3-A3 |]

"var. 4"gca~g>fe | dBGdDF/G/ | AABcBA | ^GEB~ee>f |
gca~g>fe | dBGdDe/d/ | cBAB^GE | A3-A3 |]

"var. 5"A/B/cAc/d/eA| G/A/BGB/c/dG | A/B/cAc/d/eA | E/^F/^GEG/A/BE |
c/d/ece/f/gc | G/A/BGB/c/dG | A/B/cA^G/A/BG | A3-A3 |]

"var. 6"c.c.cc.c.c | g.g.gG>AB | a.a.aA>B c/d/ | e.e.e~^G.E.E |
C.C.CC>D E/F/ | GGA~B>AG |cBA^G>^FG | A3-A3 |]

"var. 7"cABcde | BGABcd | cABcde | B2^GE3 |
ecdefg | BGABcd | ~cAc~B^GE | A3-A3 |]

# Posted on March 13th 2007 by Falkbeer

More "Greensleeves" ~ O'Neill's "Little Bogtrotter"

Key signature: a minor
Submitted on November 12th 2007 by OsvaldoLaviosa.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/7959

# Posted on November 27th 2007 by ceolachan

"Greensleeves" ~ the family thing continues

"The Bunch Of Roses"
Key signature: Gminor
Submitted on May 28th 2002 by kardshark87.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/709

"Christmas Comes But Once A Year"
Key signature: G Dorian
Submitted on October 19th 2006 by usedbullfrog.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/6270

# Posted on March 28th 2008 by ceolachan

this is really confusing me, why submit it as in G major? it's clearly E minor

# Posted on July 4th 2008 by fynnjamin

Knock, knock, knock ~ hey tufbo, are you awake and decent?

# Posted on July 4th 2008 by ceolachan