Revitalising your repertoire: Australian music theatre composers
Here at Warm Me Up we believe it’s important that your own country should be represented in your music folder. Since we are ‘down under’ in Australia, we thought it would be a great time to remind our fellow Australian singers of some excellent Aussie repertoire - and there is certainly a lot to choose from! If you’re not in Australia, please enjoy these Aussie writers who are flying high on the international stage - we are sure you’ll find a great new song. And if you’ve been wondering who the fabulous singers are on Warm Me Up app, scroll down to see them in action!
Boyband - Music and Lyrics by Matthew Lee Robinson
From the musical Happy People, this parody is a perfect comedy cabaret number and requires vocal chops to boot. The difficult middle section is a real “Mouth Workout” for our app users, so be prepared! It’s a tour-de-force song to show off comedic timing and every pop vocal riff you've ever practised. Our very own John O’Hara sings here with the composer on piano - you’ll recognise John’s voice as the voice you sing with on Warm Me Up. Here he is confirming his place as one of Australia’s most versatile talents.
You can get all of Matthew Lee Robinson's sheet music on his website.
No One Will Bruise - Music and Lyrics by Matthew Lee Robinson
From the musical Atlantis, here is a very different type of song, but with equally technical demands. The quiet and exposed start and finish require the very best support and control, and in the middle, a big belt to satisfy all. This is a great showpiece for both acting and singing. As you sing it, see how many different tones and colours you can find, especially in the first half. Here is a beautiful arrangement and rendition:
And for a male version, here is Sam Ward.
Again, to access the music click here and go to ‘sheet music’.
Dead Mom from Beetlejuice - Music and Lyrics by Eddie Perfect
This is a real rock indie song for a young singer with a big voice . It can easily be cut (basically in half!) if it needs to be. Here is Sophia Anne Caruso from the Original Broadway Cast.
And this is just to remind us of the wonderful days of live theatre:
Sheet music available here.
Hey, Bobby Riggs - Music and Lyrics by Carmel Dean
Perth born Carmel Dean now lives in New York where she works as a music director. Her song cycle Well Behaved Women is well documented on her website, and represented here by this fabulous fun song recounting Billie Jean King’s famous tennis match with Bobby Riggs. This is a super-fun groove and a satisfying vocal challenge - your ‘Extending the Range’ category will come in handy here. But the payoff is immediate in this infectious and bouncy tune. Here is the wonderful Hannah Elles.
Sheet music available here.
Telly - Music and Lyrics by Tim Minchin
And now for something completely different! The musical Matilda became a world-wide success for the fabulous performer and writer Tim Minchin and this quirky character driven song opens Act Two. It’s constructed in short phrases and a bouncy, fun accompaniment that echoes the Muppet Show theme - what was the composer trying to tell us about this character?! The hilarious lyrics make it an acting piece for any comedian and it’s easily cut down.
Sheet music available here.
As Far As The Eye Can See - Music by Mathew Frank, Lyrics by Dean Bryant
The most well-known song from Once We Lived Here, this sweeping ballad evokes the Australian outback where the piece is set. Of the songs we have discussed, this is the one that is the most inherently Australian and should be sung in the accent. As a singer this does change some vowels of course so study it carefully before singing it. It’s very exciting to present Lisa-Marie Parker singing this song - you know her voice from the Warm Me Up app’s female examples. Here she gets to show off her beautiful tone, phrasing and diction. Thank you Lisa-Marie!