Variations on an Old Folk Song-Commissioned by the Schott publishing house the present variations on the song Greensleeves were written in 2000 by Genzmer who seized on the suggestion to write a cycle of variations on this Old English melody which had often served as a theme for variations in music history as for example in the famous anonymous cycle 'Greensleeves to a ground' (around 1700). Genzmer keeps the theme simple yet with great virtuosity and original harmony. All parts are written in a linear fashion. The four variations observe almost in a classical manner the principle of increasing differentiation and acceleration of therhythm.Variation 1 uses crotchets and quavers as well as semiquaver triplets whereas Variation 2 uses semiquavers throughout and Variation 3 the somewhat faster semiquaver triplets. Variation 4 stays on this fast rhythmic level with semiquavers and semiquaver triplets. A rewarding piece for the 'Jugend musiziert' competition as well as for advanced lessons.
