A wind chime with five cylinders or bells represents the five elements of life: metal, earth, water, wood and fire. The chords and thematic fragments were inspired by the bell-like sounds of this percussion instrument. In the 18th Century, wind chimes were tuned to the Aeolian mode or ‘God of the Winds.’ Wind chimes were used […]
Archive | Upper Primary School
RSS feed for this sectionTHE LORIKEETS AND THE RAINBOW
The Lorikeets and the Rainbow (2020) tells the story of beautiful Australian native Rainbow Lorikeets in a Bottle Brush tree. They are eating nectar from the flowers and then it rains and a rainbow appears. The Lorikeets and the Rainbow is composed for Primary School choirs. It teaches unison singing as well as the soprano part […]
WATTLE BLOSSUMS
Wattle Blossums (2020) is a description of the beautiful Australian native Wattle tree. It is a Sound Poem that remembers the best of the beauty of the Wattle tree when it is in blossum. The words have a hidden meaning that we remember the good times with people. It is a song of love and […]
RAINBOWS
Rainbows is a melodious and lyrical song that is a celebration of friendship. Rainbows (2020) is currently for Unison or SA and Piano and suits Primary or Secondary children. It teaches harmonic blending and unison singing, and explores the vocal and dynamic range of the voice. “Rainbows are so beautiful when you are here,And sunshine […]
CLOUDS
Clouds (2019) is about the shapes of animals that make pictures in the sky. The children have the option of roaring like a lion and trumpeting like an elephant! Clouds is suitable for Primary School choirs and is available as Unison or SA and piano. “Look into the sky and you will see right before […]
SYDNEY COVE
Sydney Cove (2016) is a lively, upbeat song about the ships that sailed along the Coast of Eastern Australia bringing produce back to Sydney Cove in colonial times. It is from the Australian Destinations series and is currently for Unison or SA & Piano. It is suitable for Primary School children. It has easy-to-learn words […]
STRADBROKE ISLAND HOLIDAY
Stradbroke Island Holiday (2018) is a description of a seaside holiday for Unison or SA and Piano. It describes the amazing creatures in the sea that we saw looking down over the headland of Stradbroke Island on holidays, and is suitable for Primary school children. It is a melodious and lyrical song with lovely harmonies. […]
EMU
Emu from Animal Songs is a jazzy and lively fun song for Primary school aged children. In this song, an emu is having a race with a kangaroo! Find out who wins the race! Composed in 2018, it is in the Animal Songs for children series and is available for Unison or SA and piano. […]
THE PEACEFUL WATERFALL
The Peaceful Waterfall is a lyrical, melodic meditative song for Unison or SA and Piano. It was composed in September 2017 and is suitable for Primary school and lower secondary school children. “Water flowing down the hillside, crystal water, streams of blue, Icy cold and sparkling fresh, the sky a lovely azure hue. Flowers blossom […]
FLOWER OF YOUTH
Commissioned by Voices of Birralee and suitable for ANZAC day and Remembrance day, the words are based on the poem ‘A Soldier’s Cemetery’, by John William Streets (killed and missing in action on 1 July 1916, aged 31). As any Australian I am appreciative of the fact that there were young men who went to […]
RAIN IN THE MOUNTAINS
Composed in 2017, Rain in the Mountains is suitable for Advanced Primary, Secondary school students and Adult choirs. It is available in SA or SSA and piano. It is based on a poem by Australian poet, Henry Lawson. “The Valley’s full of misty cloud, Its tinted beauty drowning, The Eucalypti roar aloud, The mountain frosts […]
Starfish
Composed in 2016, Starfish is available in Unison or SA and piano, and is suitable for lower Primary school age children from Prep to Grade 6. It teaches harmonic blending and unison singing, has easy-to-learn words for younger children and explores the range of the voice. This piece was inspired by a trip to Lennox […]
Shiver of Sharks
Composed in 2015 for Primary School choirs, Shiver of Sharks is a humorous look at the ‘dog eat dog’ world of the Animal Kingdom with a jazzy ‘safari’ style harmonic bass and accompaniment. Shiver of Sharks suits Primary School age children. The lyrics of this song teaches the names of collective nouns of groups of animals, […]
A Thousand Stars
A Thousand Stars is a description of the stars and universe. The underlying message is that each individual person is unique and we can achieve great things. We are like stars in ourselves that are part of a greater constellation. This piece was commissioned for the Pemulwuy Festival 2014 by Brisbane Boys Grammar, and is […]
Daddy Long Legs Spider
Daddy Long Legs Spider (2014) is a cheerful, humorous song about having a daddy long legs spider as a pet. It is one of our most popular songs. It has a catchy swing rhythm and optional actions and is the eighth song in the Animal Songs for Children Choral Series. Suitable for Primary school children […]
Where was the Moon?
Where was the Moon? (2014) is an inspirational song for Unison or SA and piano. The underlying message is that when things are not so good, tomorrow will always be a better day! This song is suitable for all age groups from middle Primary to secondary school and massed choir events. It teaches harmonic blending, […]
Kyrie Eleison
Kyrie Eleison (Psalm 51) composed in 2014, is an elegant arrangement of the Psalm: “Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.” It is available for Unison, SA or SSA & Piano and has an optional flute part. Key Unison – D major; SA/SSA – C major Range […]
Koala Baby Lullaby
Koala Baby Lullaby (2013) is suitable for lower Primary School age children to sing in simple harmony. It is a melodic lullaby that has words that are easy to remember, teaches simple harmonic blending and unison singing in gently rocking triple time. It is the seventh song in the Animal Songs for Children Choral Series […]
Possum
Possum (2013) from the Animal Songs for Children series is a song about the Possums that live in our roof in Queensland. It encourages children to think about the impact of the urban environment on native animals. It has a bright tune and words that Primary school children will easily memorise. It is featured on the […]
Great Australian Bight
Great Australian Bight (2013) from the Australian Destinations series, is a humorous detective song for children. Find out, from a child’s point of view, why the Great Australian Bight is called a ‘Bight.’ Is it the Great White Sharks, the Mossies or the Kronosaurus that made the ‘great big bite’? This piece is suitable for Primary school age children. […]
