A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Greensleeves

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Greene, Maurice

A Dictionary of Music and Musicians
edited by George Grove

Greensleeves by George Grove

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From volume 1 of the work.

1504636A Dictionary of Music and Musicians — GreensleevesGeorge GroveGeorge Grove

GREENSLEEVES. An old English ballad and tune mentioned by Shakspeare (Merry Wives, ii. i; v. 5). The ballad—'A new Northerne dittye of the Ladye Greene Sleeves'—was entered in the Stationers' Register Sept. 1580 (22nd of Elizabeth); but the tune is probably as old as the reign of Henry VIII. It was also known as 'The Blacksmith' and 'The Brewer' (Cromwell), and was a great favourite with the Cavaliers. Mr. Chappell (from whom the above is taken, Popular Music, etc., Plate 3, and p. 227–233) gives the tune in its oldest form as follows:—

${ \time 6/8 \key e \minor \partial 8 \relative e' { \autoBeamOff e8 g4 a8 b8.([ c16)] b8 a4 fis8 d8.([ e16)] fis8 | g4 e8 e8.([ dis16)] e8 | fis4 dis8 b4 e8 g4 a8 b8.([ c16)] b8 a4 fis8 d8.([ e16)] fis8 g8.([ fis16)] e8 dis8.([ cis16)] dis8 e4 e8 e4 \bar "||" r8 | d'4. d8.([ cis16)] b8 a4 fis8 d8.([ e16 fis8)] | g4( e8) e8.([ dis16)] e8 fis4 dis8 b4. d'!4. d8. cis16 b8 a4 fis8 d8.([ e16)] fis8 | g8. fis16 e8 dis8.([ cis16)] dis8 e4. e \bar "||" } \addlyrics { A -- las my love, you do me wrong to cast me off dis -- court -- eous -- ly. And I have lov -- ed you so long, de -- light -- ing in your com -- pa -- ny. Green -- sleves was all my joy, Green -- sleeves was my de -- light, Green -- sleeves was my heart of gold, and who but my La -- dy Green -- sleeves. } }$

A modified version is found in the Beggar's Opera, to the words 'Since laws were made for ev'ry degree,' and the tune is still sung to 'Christmas comes but once a year,' and to songs with the burden 'Which nobody can deny.'

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