I have just started using the new flute exam books with some pupils and we have begun with A1:Greensleeves. However on playing it through I realized that it didn't have enough G#s in ,or to put it another way, as many as I am used to hearing. The Greensleeves in the Abracadabra Book is identical apart from the number of G#s.
Has anybody else noticed a problem with the G#s?
As I am used to hearing the version with "extra" G#s the exam book sounds a little bit wrong at the moment. Maybe I need to re-educate my ears!
But also I wouldn't want an examiner to think that pupils had missed out the G#s and mark them down if they were only playing what was written.
Any flute teachers got an opinion on this please!
Thanks

I've noticed this in different versions of Greensleeves.

Someone will be able to give a more technical answer, but with the G naturals it sounds more 'modal', probably like it was sung originally.

I suspect that the G sharps are put in by some editors to make the tune more 'normal' to our modern ears.

Get them to play it as written, an examiner can always look at the music afterwards if they are in doubt, and they'll be hearing Flute Grade 1 so often the G natural version will be familiar to them!

have you checked with piano score?

Thanks for the reply -thats more or less what I was thinking -thanks for the advice.

Yes - without the G#s is an older version of the melody and is indeed modal. The whole tune is fascinating as the various versions chart its development. The version with B natural is older than the one with B flat - as I understand it, another excellent example of musica ficta.

I'm sure other more knowledgeable people will have more observations on this very interesting subject!