 Sheet music for "My Lady Greensleeves"  | Old melodies often get recycled and reused with new lyrics. Such was the case when, in 1865, William Dix wrote the lyrics of "What Child Is This?" and set them to the melody of "Greensleeves", a popular song from the 1500s. In its new life as a carol the tune continues to this day as a holiday favorite. It's a simple and lovely melody which has been arranged and recorded by countless artists. In 1997 our group CommonGround released the album "Do You Hear What I Hear?" featuring an arrangement of "What Child Is This?" by our guitarist Peter Calo. After a jazz flavored intro the arrangement continues with Peter's solo guitar reminding us of the song's Elizabethan beginnings. Following the guitar solo, the entrance of the strings provides an orchestral vision for the tune. Then, for the flute solo (starting at 2:30) Peter inventively chose to abandon the Elizabethan era and the song's original 6/8 time signature to take a brief jazz journey in 5/4. I love how Peter was able to inject a modern perspective into this 400-year-old melody before returning us gently back to something closer to its origins. If history is any indication there will be yet more renditions of what was published in 1580 as "A Newe Northen Dittye of ye Ladye Greene Sleves", now simply referred to as "Greensleeves". Happy Holidays everyone! |
Streaming on all platforms. Click the image below to listen to the arrangement of What Child is This? by CommonGround on YouTube.
Click here to listen to the entire Do You Hear What I Hear? album on YouTube.
Free to listen, no account or subscription required.
Click here to listen to the entire Do You Hear What I Hear? album on YouTube.
Free to listen, no account or subscription required.
"What Child Is This?" by CommonGround
Bruce Abbott, flute
Peter Calo, arranger, guitar
Ron Fournier, keyboards
Marty Ballou, bass
Paul Mason, drums
With guests
Cenovia Cummins, violin
Mary Rowell, viola
Stephanie Cummins, cello
Recorded and mixed by Jack Gauthier at Lakewest Recording, West Greenwich RI
Strings recorded by John Hegner Music, New York NY
Bruce Abbott, flute
Peter Calo, arranger, guitar
Ron Fournier, keyboards
Marty Ballou, bass
Paul Mason, drums
With guests
Cenovia Cummins, violin
Mary Rowell, viola
Stephanie Cummins, cello
Recorded and mixed by Jack Gauthier at Lakewest Recording, West Greenwich RI
Strings recorded by John Hegner Music, New York NY
