Professional Documents
Culture Documents
one song from the Twentieth Century Repertoire Lists for the appropriate
grade appearing in the Syllabus
OR
an Own Choice of an item from the twentieth century, which may include a
song from the repertoire of musical comedy, operetta (including Gilbert and
Sullivan) or music theatre.
When the new Singing Syllabus was introduced in 1993, a number of teachers
suggested that a list of suitable songs from the repertoire of musical theatre be
prepared by the AMEB to provide guidance for the selection of Own Choice items.
In 1994 Warren Thomson OAM, the then Chair of the AMEB (NSW) Board, invited
me to compile such a list.
Own Choice items are intended to give candidates and teachers the opportunity to
broaden their knowledge of the repertoire and to develop an awareness of the
different styles of songs, particularly in the different idioms of twentieth century
composition. Although the lists contained here may provide some idea of the
suitability of material, they should not be used exclusively. Hopefully they will provide
teachers and candidates with the confidence to search for appropriate material
themselves.
Three important features of songs from musical theatre to consider are :
1. Vocal Range
Many songs have a range covering over two octaves making it difficult to include
such songs in a program for examination, especially in Grades 5 and 6. Teachers
and candidates should be careful when selecting songs to ensure that the technique
is sufficiently developed to meet the demands of effective blending of the vocal
registers. In cases where the tessitura of a song is reasonably safe but where the
pitch of a particular note is higher than the normal range (e.g. at a final climax) it
would be advisable to sing an alternative pitch rather than force the voice beyond its
capabilities. Many of the songs listed here appear in several different volumes in
various different keys. For examination purposes, any published key is acceptable.
2. The emotional and dramatic element
Many of the songs have strong dramatic intensity as well as emotional depth that is
not always easy for the singer who is still developing a secure vocal technique to
express with full conviction. The singer who has a flair for the theatre should have no
difficulty in projecting the meaning and character of a song. However, not every
singer has such a flair, and it may be wiser for that singer to concentrate on
developing characterization in other song forms such as the twentieth century art
song.
3. Voice production
It must be understood that amplification is used in theatres and recording studios to
realize the contemporary idiom and style of musicals, particularly those which have
been composed in the last twenty-five years. This has meant that the lower range of
the female voice could be produced without force and without causing vocal damage.
However for acoustic performance, i.e. without the benefit of amplification, it would
be advisable to treat any song in which the vocal line lies in this range with utmost
care. The examiner would not expect the performance to have the vocal qualities as
an amplified one.
Selection of songs in this List
The selection of songs included here was made on the technical suitability of the
song for the developing voice at the various levels of examination. The musical
quality of the song was also taken into account, and the dramatic and emotional
character of the song was carefully considered.
These criteria were also used to arrive at a possible Grade for each song listed.
However, it should be stressed that the gradings are suggestions only and have been
based on the assumption that the candidate would be at least at a Credit level for the
nominated grade.
In the time taken to research the repertoire, I have only really begun to scratch the
surface of the vast amount of material available. These lists provide suggestions
only. They are not prescriptive and should not be considered as supplementary lists
to the current Singing Syllabus.
A list of books has been included which teachers and candidates may find useful as
references for information about the general background of musical theatre and for
some ideas about the theatrical presentation of songs. This information will also
assist candidates preparing for the General Knowledge section of the examination.
I am indebted to the staff of Willoughby Municipal Library and The Australian Music
Centre in Sydney for their assistance in facilitating the research of the material. And a
special thanks to Patricia Oertel for her help in grading the songs and for her
suggestions for additional song repertoire and advice for singers.
RICHARD MORPHEW
March 2004
Show
Composer
Song Title
Publisher
Aspects of Love
Ballroom
Beauty and the Beast
Brigadoon
Camelot
Chess
Cinderella
Fiddler on the Roof
Finnians Rainbow
Finnians Rainbow
Flower Drum Song
Godspell
Guys and Dolls
Hello, Dolly!
Jekyll & Hyde
Jekyll & Hyde
Jekyll & Hyde
Martin Guerre
Mulan
Oklahoma!
Oklahoma!
Petes Dragon
Shenandoah
Song and Dance
The Apple Tree
The King and I
The King and I
The King and I
The Lion King
The Music Man
The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music
The Sound of Music
The Wiz
Two by Two
West Side Story
Whistle Down the Wind
Chanson denfence
Fifty percent
A change in me
Waitin for my dearie
Before I gaze at you
Heaven help my heart
In my own little corner
Far from the home I love
How are things in Gloccamorra?
Look to the rainbow
I enjoy being a girl
Day by day
Ive never been in love before
Ribbons down my back
No one knows who I am
Once upon a dream
Sympathy, Tenderness
How many tears?
Reflection
Many a new day
Out of my dreams
Candle on the water
Violets and Silverbells
Tell me on a Sunday
Feelings
Getting to know you
Hello, young lovers
I whistle a happy tune
Can you feel the love tonight
Goodnight my someone
My favorite things
Something good
The Sound of Music
Soon as I get home
An old man
I feel pretty
Whistle down the wind
Show
Composer
Song Title
Publisher
Gaston
Cest moi
Camelot
Fifty million years ago
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Cinderella
Do Re Mi
Fanny
Fiddler on the Roof
Fiddler on the Roof
Finnians Rainbow
How To Succeed in BusinessWithout Really Trying
Jekyll & Hyde
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Kismet
Les Miserables
Lost in the Stars
Minnies Boys
Nine
Oklahoma!
Oklahoma!
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
Paint Your Wagon
Pal Joey
Pipe Dream
Saturday Night
Shenandoah
Stop the World - I Want to Get Off
The Happy Prince
The Happy Time
The Little Mermaid
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Deshon Music
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Josef Weinberger
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Boyd
Boyd
Fraser-Simpson & Lonsdale
Brecht & Weill
Yeston
Yeston
Yeston
Stolz & Benatzky
Faber Music
Faber Music
Ascherberg, AHopwood & Crew Ltd
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Chappell & Co
Show
Composer
Song Title
Publisher
Hal Leonard
The Really Useful Group
Chappell & Co
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Glocken Verlag
Keih Prowse Music Publishing Co Ltd
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Cherry Lane Music
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Wise Publications
Wise Publications
Hal Leonard
Chappell & Co Ltd
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Francis, Day & Hunter
Francis, Day & Hunter
Hal Leonard
The Really Useful Group
The Really Useful Group
Chappell & Co
In Your Ear Music
Hal Leonard
Asherberg, Hopwood & Crew Ltd
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Warner Tamerlane
Peter Maurice Music Co Ltd
Peter Maurice Music Co Ltd
Show
Composer
Song Title
Publisher
Allegro
Anyone Can Whistle
Beauty and the Beast
Brigadoon
Camelot
Carousel
Chess
Chicago
Chu Chin Chow
Do Re Mi
Fiddler on the Roof
Frederica
Frederica
Frederica
Good Night Vienna
Jekyll & Hyde
Jesus Christ Superstar
Kismet
Kismet
Kiss Me, Kate
Knickerbocker Holiday
Lost in the Stars
Man of La Mancha
Man of La Mancha
Martin Guerre
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Keith Prowse Music Publishing Co Ltd
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Glocken Verlag
Glocken Verlag
Glocken Verlag
Keith Prowse Music Publishing Co Ltd
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Minnies Boys
My Fair Lady
Naughty Marietta
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
Paint Your Wagon
Pajama Game
Pippin
Plain and Fancy
Robert and Elizabeth
Shenandoah
Slide Show
South Pacific
South Pacific
Sunset Boulevard
Sweeney Todd, the Demon Baker of Fleet Street
The Bakers Wife
The Cat and the Fiddle
The Cat and the Fiddle
The Dancing Years
Titanic
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
B Feldman & Co Ltd
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Belwin Inc
Hal Leonard
Erle Music Ltd
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Grey Dog
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Chappell & Co Ltd
Hal Leonard
Show
Composer
Song Title
Publisher
A new life
Good and Evil
In his eyes
In my life
The Girls of Summer
Ah! Sweet mystery of life
Shy
The greatest of these
Kind of woman
It wonders me
This is all very new to me
What will it be for me
So many people
Unexpected Song
By the sea
Show
Composer
Song Title
Publisher
Sondheim
Webber, Black & Hart
Menken & Rice
Herbert & Ellis
Lerner & Loewe
Webber & T.S. Elliot
Anderson, Rice & Ulvaeus
Shire & Maltby Jr.
Sondheim
Sondheim
Sondheim
Rodgers & Sondheim
Rodgers & Sondheim
Rome
Sondheim
Schwartz
Brel, Shuman, Blau, Jouunnest, Brel &
Corti
Brel, Shuman, Blau, Jouunnest, Brel &
Corti
Bricusse & Wildhorm
Bricusse & Wildhorm
Schonberg & Boublil
Schonberg, Boublil & Clark
German
Green & Bernstein
Rodgers & Barber
Brown
Brown
Gershwin
Larson
Russell & Krieger
Rodgers & Hammerstein II
Webber, Black & Hampton
Romberg
Holmes
Norman & Simon
Norman & Simon
German
Bricusse & Mancini
Rome
Hal Leonard
The Really Useful Group
Hal Leonard
Sam Fox Publishing Co
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Cherry Lane Music
Cherry Lane Music
Wise Publications
Hal Leonard
Chappell & Co Ltd
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Chappell & Co Ltd
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Show
Composer
Song Title
Publisher
Old Maid
Miriams song: The plan is bad
Gltter and be gay
Memory
One more kiss
Its a dangerous game
It never was you
Trouble Man
O who shall say that love is cruel?
If you want to die in bed
Now that Ive seen her
Italian Street Song
I can cook too
I read
My mans gone now
Woman and Man
Somehow I never could believe
Green finch and linnet bird
The worst pies in London
Waltz while you may
Rosas Confession
One kiss
Think of me
The sacred tree
The golden ram
Hal Leonard
Australian Music Centre
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Cherry Lane Music
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Chappell & Co Ltd
Wise Publications
Wise Publications
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Rilting Music Inc
Chappell & Co Ltd
Erle Music
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Chappell & Co Ltd
Hal Leonard
Chappell & Co Ltd
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Hal Leonard
Show
Composer
Song Title
Publisher