Topmusicanswers
- Did Henry VIII really write Greensleeves?
- How old is Greensleeves?
- Is Greensleeves a sad song?
- Is Greensleeves the same as What Child Is This?
Did Henry VIII really write Greensleeves?
While 'Greensleeves' probably wasn't written by Henry VIII, it's still an enduring example of Tudor music. Vaughan Williams, one of the 20th century's most popular English composers, was inspired by the piece to compose his Fantasia on Greensleeves, complete with the rich strumming of a harp (listen above).
How old is Greensleeves?
Greensleeves, composed anonymously in 1580, is a song which has been a magnet for fanciful claims.
Is Greensleeves a sad song?
From the Scientific American article, by Ferris Jabr: Almost everyone thinks "Greensleeves" is a sad song—but why? Apart from the melancholy lyrics, it's because the melody prominently features a musical construct called the minor third, which musicians have used to express sadness since at least the 17th century.
Is Greensleeves the same as What Child Is This?
The Christmas carol "What Child Is This?" is sung to the tune of "Greensleeves." "What Child Is This?" is a song about the birth of Christ, while "Greensleeves" is a love ballad.
