I'm John Gleadall - teaching for 40 years and finding that bespoke material that matches and challenges the ability profile of the children is a good way forward. 20 years in 'socially challenged' schools, 10 years in a more leafy area and 10 years in junior school - it's a good mix and has resulted in a wide variety of musical material for children.
I'm John Gleadall - teaching for 40 years and finding that bespoke material that matches and challenges the ability profile of the children is a good way forward. 20 years in 'socially challenged' schools, 10 years in a more leafy area and 10 years in junior school - it's a good mix and has resulted in a wide variety of musical material for children.
This is a concert version of ‘The Highwayman’ poem by Alfred Noyes.
Music by John Gleadall
Please go here for more information:
https://musicals4all.com/the-highwayman/
In the UK copyright permission should be obtained from the society of authors.
A full score is currently in production. The backing track is available on request.
https://musicals4all.com/contact/
I played this music to Alfred Noyes daughter - she enjoyed it very much. I was delighted!
The Annunciation was never like this! What a dilemma, engaged to be married to Joseph - then you are told that you’re gong to bear the son of God!
This singable song puts a human angle on this part of the Christmas story. Please check the vocal demo - you will be singing the chorus by the end of it!
Send the children to this page on my website so they can practice at home - vital to get the words out clearly.
http://www.musicals4kidz.com/musicals4kidz.com/Christmasm_Songs_for_Choirs.html
They can also access the song on You Tube I’ve done it in G and C:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpC0O3yViL4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-vcwsGugdk
Get in touch if you want any changes to key or tempo.
Get the kids singing at home!
There are two You Tube videos - one with a demo vocal and a 1940’s ‘karaoke’ version.
Just make an Anderson shelter with a couple of chairs and a duvet and have an air raid sing song whilst your Woolton pie bakes in the oven.
Ideal if you are tackling WW2 in your curriculum - also good if you want to get the youngsters sing at home - preferably with the whole family!
Get in touch if you need more stuff - I have a whole career’s worth in the cupboard doing nothing!
Cratchit’s Christmas Carol is a modern take of the famous CHARLES DICKENS novella.
This version is inspired by Dickens and a certain talent show host with high waisted trousers. Please check out the songs and the script via the website link. Written with teenagers in mind. ALL SONGS CAN BE HEARD HERE:
https://musicals4all.com/cratchets-christmas-carol/
Password: Bowker
Act One – One hour – 13 songs
‘Squeezer’ Scrooge, TV talent guru and showbiz entrepreneur is hassled by the NHS choir who are seeking a Christmas No. 1. He kicks them out whilst resolving to steal their catchy tune. He instructs his intern, the talented but diffident ‘Crotchet’, to rework the song.
Squeezer is then accosted by Rob and Squidge hilariously seeking accommodation for the homeless – they get the brush off.
Enter Squeezer’s Nephew, I.T. techie Archie and his girlfriend Erin, a social worker. They invite him to Christmas lunch. Scrooge reckons that they are trying to get into his will.
Meanwhile Cratchit is spending time reworking the NHS song.
Squeezer Scrooge listens to the ‘official’ lyrics to the NHS rip off – loves it and authorises it for release. He calls for the first auditionee to be sent in for his new talent show. Enter his old partner Marley (dead seven years ago) who he supplanted to run the company. Marley warns him that he will meet three ghosts….
Ghosts of Christmas Past arrive. Imagine The Supremes meet Bananarama. They take Squeezer on a tour of his past misdemeanours, his school, his first place of work, his first girlfriend (Ruby), his first love (cash) and his cruel exploitation of no hopers with ‘a dream’. Act One ends with all cast members reviewing his past. Will Squeezer repent?
Act 2 – 50 minutes – 10 songs
Squeezer reflects on his past– and decides he’s OK.
Enter Christmas Present – a lot like Ariana Grande… They visit The Cratchit family, highlighting the plight of Tiny Tina who is being treated by the NHS Doctor – expensive private treatment is out of the question.
They then visit Archie and Erin’s Christmas Karaoke Party where they are lampooning Scrooge.
Christmas future takes Scrooge to a car boot sale where many of his possessions are on sale. He also sees his old girlfriend who cherishes the memory of what he was
Back in the audition room Squeezer resolves to change his ways. He gets a Santa Suit. He meets the NHS choir and bestows the royalties that are rightfully theirs, he gives Cratchit the performing rights to his songs, he creates a Red Nose endowment, pays for Tiny Tina’s treatment and makes his peace with Archie, Erin and Ruby
Epilogue – as snow falls he sings an uplifting version of Cratchit’s Christmas Carol with Tiny Tina.
This show really works. If you need a Christmas show or a way of getting pupils to consider DICKENS or the Christmas Carol novel please take the time to listen to the songs and read the script.
Dickens novella ‘A Christmas Carol’ has never looked like this before. This is a full length musical featuring ‘Squeezer’ Scrooge, a talent show host/entrepreneur who is ripping off the NHS choir for the Christmas number one slot.
There are dozens of speaking parts, only one large part and 22 really catchy and singable songs - please check them out. All songs can be adapted by consulting the composer.
I have band parts for most songs - provided on request.
I have scores for many of the songs - provided on request.
Backing tracks provided - keys can be adjusted.
Here’s a synopsis:
Act One – One hour – 13 songs
Song 1 - ‘A Christmas welcome’ sung by the whole company in
‘Squeezer’ Scrooge, TV talent guru and showbiz entrepreneur is hassled by the NHS choir who are seeking a Christmas No. 1. He kicks them out whilst resolving to steal their catchy tune. He instructs his intern, the talented but diffident ‘Crotchet’, to rework the song.
Squeezer is then accosted by Rob and Squidge hilariously seeking accommodation for the homeless – they get the brush off.
Enter Squeezer’s Nephew, I.T. techie Archie and his girlfriend Erin, a social worker. They invite him to Christmas lunch. Scrooge reckons that they are trying to get into his will.
Meanwhile Cratchit is spending time reworking the NHS song.
Squeezer Scrooge listens to the ‘official’ lyrics to the NHS rip off – loves it and authorises it for release. He calls for the first auditionee to be sent in for his new talent show. Enter his old partner Marley (dead seven years ago) who he supplanted to run the company. Marley warns him that he will meet three ghosts….
Ghosts of Christmas Past arrive. Imagine The Supremes meet Bananarama. They take Squeezer on a tour of his past misdemeanours, his school, his first place of work, his first girlfriend (Ruby), his first love (cash) and his cruel exploitation of no hopers with ‘a dream’. Act One ends with all cast members reviewing his past. Will Squeezer repent?
Act 2 – 50 minutes – 10 songs
Squeezer reflects on his past– and decides he’s OK.
Enter Christmas Present – a lot like Ariana Grande… They visit The Cratchit family, highlighting the plight of Tiny Tina who is being treated by the NHS Doctor – expensive private treatment is out of the question.
They then visit Archie and Erin’s Christmas Karaoke Party where they are lampooning Scrooge.
Christmas future takes Scrooge to a car boot sale where many of his possessions are on sale. He also sees his old girlfriend who cherishes the memory of what he was
Back in the audition room Squeezer resolves to change his ways. He gets a Santa Suit. He meets the NHS choir and bestows the royalties that are rightfully theirs, he gives Cratchit the performing rights to his songs, he creates a Red Nose endowment, pays for Tiny Tina’s treatment and makes his peace with Archie, Erin and Ruby
Epilogue – as snow falls he sings an uplifting version of Cratchit’s Christmas Carol with Tiny Tina.