In the spirit of a true "Renaissance" monarch, King Henry VIII of England by the time he was 23 could speak four languages, play three musical instruments, and sing "from the book" at sight. Indeed, music followed the court of this most splendid King all of his life, and despite the high political drama of his reign—Henry's relations with France, with his many wives, and with the Roman papacy—King Henry managed to compose music with some regularity. In fact, some 34 songs and consort pieces survive attributed to the King. Green groweth the holly appears with the remainder of them in the so-called Henry VIII manuscript, a collection compiled by an unknown courtier of all the King's compositions. The text may also have been written by the King, and it cleverly vaccilates between the holly and the ivy, powerful images of Christmas in the English tradition, and the courtly lover's declaration of his faithfulness. The poet's faith to the lady fair will compare, in fact, to the sturdy holly bush that remains green despite the ravages of winter. King Henry's musical setting borrows the form of the English carol, a round dance with refrains, and may have been composed for the Christmas Revels. Green groweth the holly becomes a refrain, appropriately enough, with verses proclaiming the lover's fidelity interspersed. The melody follows a shapely tune, though the King does leave each refrain on a surprising upward motion to the third. Four lower voices or instruments accompany with all propriety.

© Timothy Dickey, All Music Guide