Fingering and pitch question (Greensleeves)

[HarleyMan]

Greensleeves arrangement by SJ Williams (www.music-scores.com)
https://www.music-scores.com/skill/composer.php?skill=5&instrument=Piano&name=traditional

Key: Bb Major or Gm?
I would guess Gm.  The first chord is Cm, and at least the first part of this piece sounds minor...to me.  But my musical ear is untrained.

When I look at this music I see 3 voices.
Bass: Lower bass single notes played by left hand.
Harmony: Chords played by left hand.
Melody: Played by right hand.

Fact:  I have short fingers. Right hand will span an octave with a slight depression of the keys inside  1 and 5.

1. Fingering question (Measures 1-4):
Here is what I am doing for the melody.
RH m1: CEbGBbABb <==124545
RH m2: AGFGFEbD  <==4325432
RH m3: CEbBbDCD  <==124545
RH m4: BbGEbD  <==5311

My left hand is using 5 for the low bass and 531 for all the chords( m1-m9).

Are my finger choices good, bad, okay or terrible for the melody? 


2. Pitch question (  Measure 8  ): Accidential Ab in the lower voice followed by a chord involving the same note.  Should the ACEb chord in the 'middle voice' be played as AbCEb or
should it be played as written (ACEb)? 

Do accidentials in one voice alter the pitch of the same note (always, sometimes, never) in a different voice?   


If I could figure out how to attach an image of the first few bars I would have. 


TIA,
  Harley

[richard w]

Key: Bb Major or Gm?

Greensleves uses the Dorian mode - in this case transposed down a tone.

1. Fingering question (Measures 1-4):
Here is what I am doing for the melody.
RH m1: CEbGBbABb <==124545
RH m2: AGFGFEbD  <==4325432
RH m3: CEbBbDCD  <==124545
RH m4: BbGEbD  <==5311

My left hand is using 5 for the low bass and 531 for all the chords( m1-m9).

Are my finger choices good, bad, okay or terrible for the melody?

I'd use 1235 to start bar 1. I would also make the join between bars 3 and 4 smoother by fingering bar 4 3212, or 3132, or 3121 - lots of possibilities, but don't do 55 over the bar line in the middle of a phrase without good reason.

2. Pitch question (  Measure 8  ): Accidential Ab in the lower voice followed by a chord involving the same note.  Should the ACEb chord in the 'middle voice' be played as AbCEb or
should it be played as written (ACEb)?

 


I'd say the A in the right hand was meant to be natural, on account of the same harmony (F sharp, A, C and E flat) appearing in bar 12 without the flat. Either way, this should have been clarified on the score with an additional accidental, given that the A appears on a different stave. However, the same type of dilemma in another context may well require a different treatment. Sometimes you can use your ear to come to a decision, but in this case I'm really not sure what the arranger is trying to achieve with his harmonies. They definitely deviate from those implied by the melody, and as an avant-garde arrangement it feels less than satisfactory to me.

Do accidentials in one voice alter the pitch of the same note (always, sometimes, never) in a different voice?

Sometimes.

[HarleyMan]

Thanks Richard! 
I sincerely appreciate your help!

I am trying the different fingering now...and ....I am looking for a teacher to help me with these kinds of questions, but I haven't located the 'right' one yet, anywhere close to me. 

I agree that this is not the 'greatest' arrangement of Greensleeves.  But I like it better than the very simple arrangements I have in method books (Alfreds, Bastiens).

Does anyone know of other, much nicer arrangements, of Greensleeves? 

Actually when I hear this enchanting melody I don't even think of the Greensleeves 'words' or of the origins of the song...instead it makes me think of the song 'A Home in the Meadow' which was popularized by Alfred Newman's (composer) arrangement in the movie , 'How the West was Won' and was sung by Debbie Reynolds.  Unfortunately, I can not find any sheet music for Newman's arrangement. 


A HOME IN THE MEADOW

Away, away, come away with me
where the grass grows wild and the winds blow free
Away, away, come away with me
and I'll build you a home in the meadow

Come, come, there's a wondrous land
for the hopeful heart and the willing hand
Come, come, there's a wondrous land
where I'll build you a home in the meadow

The stars, the stars, oh how bright they'll shine
on a world the lord himself designed
The stars, the stars, oh how bright they'll shine
on the home we will build in the meadow

Come, come, there's a wondrous land
for the hopeful heart and the willing hand
Come, come, there's a wondrous land
where I'll build you a home in the meadow

Okay.....I know its not Bach, Beethoven or Debussy.
But I LIKE it!  Please don't ban me for liking a 'song' with 'words'.


Seriously...Thanks again Richard!!


Back to the piano now,
   Harley