Greensleeves - Exeter University Madrigals A Cappella

There is a persistent belief that Greensleeves was composed by Henry VIII for his lover and future queen consort Anne Boleyn. Boleyn allegedly rejected King Henry’s attempts to seduce her and this rejection may be referred to in the song when the writer’s love “cast me off discourteously“. However, the piece is based on an Italian style of composition that did not reach England until after Henry’s death, making it more likely to be Elizabethan in origin. So there you go. This particular version is a Victorian setting of the 16th century words, at any rate. You can like us on Facebook to hear more about us: