Uploaded December 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Here is a really common song that's often played around the holiday season called, "Greensleeves." The main melody is a very old English (at least I think it's English?) song that I believe is from the 1500s. The melody is sometimes played more like a faster jig instead of an air, and sometimes referred to as, "Greensleeves and Pudding Pies," "Greensleeves and Yellow Lace," The Bunch of Roses," or "Christmas Comes But Once A Year." (This melody has a lot of different names!!)
To me, the versions of "Greensleeves and Yellow Lace" that I've heard sound very Scottish, so I tried to keep that vibe by adding more of an emphasis on the beat rather than on the off-beat.
It became associated as a Christmas carol with references to Christmas popping up in lyrics around the 1600s. The lyrics to "What Child Is This?" were written in 1865 by William Chatterton Dix, and are some of the most popular lyrics to sing to this melody nowadays.
It was probably an extremely well-known melody back in the 1500s and 1600s as even Shakespeare included a reference to the song in "The Merry Wives of Windsor:"
"Let the sky rain potatoes; let it thunder to the tune of Green Sleeves."
It's a very versatile song -- it can sound very ethereal and mysterious played slowly as an air, or it can transform into a lively dance tune when played faster like a jig!
I played this version on B-flat and E-flat penny whistles! I've started learning penny whistle during the pandemic -- it's a very fun instrument, but I don't think my apartment neighbors are as excited as I am........ :/ I've been trying to practice outside as much as possible to avoid being too loud and annoying since I tend to squeak a lot and don't really know where the notes are yet, lol.
If you watched my Carolan's Concerto music video, you may know that I have a hard time trying to listen to the music with headphones and hold my phone somehow (skirts usually don't have pockets...) while playing violin for the music video footage. I thought I could solve this with Bluetooth headphones, but I have to say that I think they look a bit goofy for a music video, lol...Oh well... They made it really easy to film because my phone could on the ground near the camera -- I just wish the headphones looked a bit smaller...
I hope you are doing okay during all of this! It's been a rough year, but I'm excited that a vaccine (or multiple vaccines!) is coming! I am planning to have a very quarantined Christmas this year, but at least we can all still connect with family through video conference calls. I miss their hugs...
2021 is coming, and I think things are going to start to get better soon!
Thank you for watching, and Happy Holidays! Please stay safe and healthy!! =)
~ Katy
------------
A big "Thank you!" goes to my supporters on Patreon:
patreon.com/KatyAdelson
Music store website:
goldenaspenmusic.com
Artist portfolio website:
katyadelson.com
Download/stream my "Tune Collection" album:
fanlink.to/TuneCollection
Download/stream my "Ghost Ship" single:
fanlink.to/GhostShip
Hashtags:
#Greensleeves #ChristmasMusic #Violin #Fiddle #KatyAdelson #Music #FolkViolin
Software and equipment used:
Full list of all my basic violin equipment:
katyadelson.com/about/violin-equipment-and-recommendations
Violin gear:
Violin: 1899 Ernst Kreusler “Copy of Antonius Stradivarius” violin from Germany
Bow: CodaBow Luma
Strings: Evah Pirazzi Violin Strings (with a ball E)
Rosin: Salchow Rosin
Shoulder Rest: Bonmusica Shoulder Rest
Software used (for Macintosh):
Garageband for attempted sound mixing
Final Cut Pro for video editing
PicMonkey.com for the ending cards
Plugins for sound effects (I have A LOT to learn in this department!):
East West plugins – Goliath Virtual Instrument
Best Service Forest Kingdom II by Eduardo Tarilonte (See: bestservice.de)
Camera:
Canon 70D + 18-135 mm kit lens
Sony RX100 V
Microphone for audio recording:
Blue Woodpecker
Here is a really common song that's often played around the holiday season called, "Greensleeves." The main melody is a very old English (at least I think it's English?) song that I believe is from the 1500s. The melody is sometimes played more like a faster jig instead of an air, and sometimes referred to as, "Greensleeves and Pudding Pies," "Greensleeves and Yellow Lace," The Bunch of Roses," or "Christmas Comes But Once A Year." (This melody has a lot of different names!!)
To me, the versions of "Greensleeves and Yellow Lace" that I've heard sound very Scottish, so I tried to keep that vibe by adding more of an emphasis on the beat rather than on the off-beat.
It became associated as a Christmas carol with references to Christmas popping up in lyrics around the 1600s. The lyrics to "What Child Is This?" were written in 1865 by William Chatterton Dix, and are some of the most popular lyrics to sing to this melody nowadays.
It was probably an extremely well-known melody back in the 1500s and 1600s as even Shakespeare included a reference to the song in "The Merry Wives of Windsor:"
"Let the sky rain potatoes; let it thunder to the tune of Green Sleeves."
It's a very versatile song -- it can sound very ethereal and mysterious played slowly as an air, or it can transform into a lively dance tune when played faster like a jig!
I played this version on B-flat and E-flat penny whistles! I've started learning penny whistle during the pandemic -- it's a very fun instrument, but I don't think my apartment neighbors are as excited as I am........ :/ I've been trying to practice outside as much as possible to avoid being too loud and annoying since I tend to squeak a lot and don't really know where the notes are yet, lol.
If you watched my Carolan's Concerto music video, you may know that I have a hard time trying to listen to the music with headphones and hold my phone somehow (skirts usually don't have pockets...) while playing violin for the music video footage. I thought I could solve this with Bluetooth headphones, but I have to say that I think they look a bit goofy for a music video, lol...Oh well... They made it really easy to film because my phone could on the ground near the camera -- I just wish the headphones looked a bit smaller...
I hope you are doing okay during all of this! It's been a rough year, but I'm excited that a vaccine (or multiple vaccines!) is coming! I am planning to have a very quarantined Christmas this year, but at least we can all still connect with family through video conference calls. I miss their hugs...
2021 is coming, and I think things are going to start to get better soon!
Thank you for watching, and Happy Holidays! Please stay safe and healthy!! =)
~ Katy
------------
A big "Thank you!" goes to my supporters on Patreon:
patreon.com/KatyAdelson
Music store website:
goldenaspenmusic.com
Artist portfolio website:
katyadelson.com
Download/stream my "Tune Collection" album:
fanlink.to/TuneCollection
Download/stream my "Ghost Ship" single:
fanlink.to/GhostShip
Hashtags:
#Greensleeves #ChristmasMusic #Violin #Fiddle #KatyAdelson #Music #FolkViolin
Software and equipment used:
Full list of all my basic violin equipment:
katyadelson.com/about/violin-equipment-and-recommendations
Violin gear:
Violin: 1899 Ernst Kreusler “Copy of Antonius Stradivarius” violin from Germany
Bow: CodaBow Luma
Strings: Evah Pirazzi Violin Strings (with a ball E)
Rosin: Salchow Rosin
Shoulder Rest: Bonmusica Shoulder Rest
Software used (for Macintosh):
Garageband for attempted sound mixing
Final Cut Pro for video editing
PicMonkey.com for the ending cards
Plugins for sound effects (I have A LOT to learn in this department!):
East West plugins – Goliath Virtual Instrument
Best Service Forest Kingdom II by Eduardo Tarilonte (See: bestservice.de)
Camera:
Canon 70D + 18-135 mm kit lens
Sony RX100 V
Microphone for audio recording:
Blue Woodpecker
