Psychology of the Natural Minor Scale

Natural minor is the same scale as the Aeolian mode. The piece Greensleeves is in this scale, as well as a lot of chants, but it isn't generally used for music that's newer than the Renaissance. Generally, the harmonic minor scale has replaced it since then.
In the key of A, this scale uses just white notes. In C, it uses C,D,Eb,F,G,Ab,Bb.
This scale gives an ancient feeling, and it is not suited for modern harmony because of the flat 7th. Because of that, it has no leading tone. (which is a tone one semitone flat from the home key, and is used before the home key to bring tension which the tonic chord made from the home key resolves to)
Composing something in natural minor, therefore, requires a shift in thinking and is easier to do with counterpoint than modern harmony. Transposing something that is usually in harmonic minor to natural minor will give it a more somber tone.
As far as composing goes, I wouldn't recommend this key over harmonic minor except in situations where you want to give a rustic, archaic sort of feeling, as that's what the aeolian mode excels at. To me, it brings to mind pictures of Franciscan monks in 1300's France, or forgotten folk bands from strange corners of the globe.
What is your favorite natural minor song?
What characteristics do you find in this scale?
Happy composing,
Azure

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