Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Greensleeves: Celebrating a 400-Year-Old English Folk Song

In 16th century England, Greensleeves was already such a popular melody that William Shakespeare referenced it in his 1597 comedy, The Merry Wives of Windsor with Falstaff’s exclamation,

Let the sky rain potatoes! Let it thunder to the tune of ‘Greensleeves’!

The English folk song was first registered in September of 1580 under the title, “A Newe Northen Dittye of ye Ladye Greene Sleves.” According to myth, the melody was written by Henry VIII. Actually, it was based on an Italian compositional style that did not reach England until after Henry’s death. The song, with its sequential repeating four-note descending bass line is an example of the Spanish romanesca. The melody itself seems rooted in the lush, picturesque English countryside. Its lyrics hint at an earthy promiscuity. In his translation of The Canterbury Tales, Nevill Coghill explains that “green [for Chaucer’s age] was the colour of lightness in love. This is echoed in ‘Greensleeves is my delight’ and elsewhere.”

As early as 1686, the melody was set with alternate Christmas texts. The most famous is the 19th century text, “What Child is This?”

Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Greensleeves evokes serene, pastoral landscapes, timelessness and quiet mystery. Initially used in the third act of Vaughan Williams’ Shakespeare-inspired opera, Sir John in Love, the Fantasia includes “Lovely Joan,” another folk song the composer discovered in the region of Suffolk.

Here is Sir John Barbirolli’s 1963 recording with the Sinfonia Of London:

Recordings

• Vaughan Williams: Fantasia on Greensleeves, Sir John Barbirolli, Sinfonia Of London Amazon

Featured Image: “My Lady Greensleeves,” Dante Gabriel Rossetti