Half a Sixpence: Shows & Movies

Name: Half a Sixpence: Shows & Movies
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 55-02275
Price: 20.99 USD
Availability: OutOfStock

By David Heneker

Item: 55-02275

$20.99

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David Heneker's musical, Half a Sixpence, was written as a vehicle for British pop star Tommy Steele and was later turned into a film. It was based on H.G. Wells' novel Kipps: The Story of a Simple Soul.

Titles: Economy; Half A Sixpence; Money To Burn; I Don't Believe A Word of It; A Proper Gentleman; She's Too Far Above Me; If The Rain's Got To Fall; The Old Military Canal; The One Who's Run Away; Long Ago; Flash, Bang, Wallop!; I Know What I Am; The Party's On The House; Half A Sixpence (reprise); Chittlelow's Return; Finale.

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Publisher: IMP

UPC: 227500000000

SKU: 55-02275

More about this title

About the Composer: David Heneker

David Heneker (1906-1986) composed and lyricized musical theatre scores across five decades, crafting shows that balanced melodic accessibility with theatrical sophistication. Half a Sixpence stands as his most enduring work, a collaboration with playwright Wolf Mankowitz that captured the energy of 1960s British pop culture while maintaining the storytelling traditions of musical theatre.

Heneker's craft lay in writing songs that served character and plot without sacrificing singability. His melodies sit naturally in the voice, and his harmonic language respects popular sensibility while supporting genuine dramatic moments. For musicians and directors, his scores offer an entry point into mid-20th-century musical theatre composition that rewards both accessibility and interpretive depth.

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Why we love this

This collection spans the full emotional and comedic range of a beloved musical, giving pianists and singers a genuine theatrical arc in a single volume. The material moves from establishing comedy (Economy, Money to Burn) through character revelation (She's Too Far Above Me) to ensemble celebration (Flash, Bang, Wallop!), making it ideal for recitals or concert programming that tells a story. Heneker's melodies are instantly memorable yet substantial enough to reward serious musical preparation.

What to expect

Stepping into a 1960s seaside town where romance, ambition, and social comedy collide. The music radiates optimism and warmth, with lyrics that find humor in human aspiration without condescension. There's joy in the ensemble numbers, tenderness in the ballads, and genuine character in every song.

Who it's for

Singers preparing recital programs that include musical theatre repertoire, voice teachers building repertoires that mix classical and contemporary styles, and pianists accompanying students or community productions. This collection works equally well for a single performer building a mixed concert or a studio exploring the musical theatre canon.

How to get the most out of it

Treat the opening numbers with vaudeville energy; the comedy lives in crisp articulation and clear text delivery, not rushing the tempo
In the romantic ballads (She's Too Far Above Me, Long Ago), shape the phrase through the lyric rather than holding a static vocal line
Balance the ensemble numbers so they feel celebratory without losing definition; the rhythmic precision in Flash, Bang, Wallop! drives the piece forward
Use the varied tempos and styles across the collection as rehearsal breaks; jumping from a comic patter song to a tender ballad requires mental and physical reset

How to use it

String these together as a full musical theatre act in a recital, or program individual numbers among art songs and classical selections to demonstrate range and style versatility. For voice teachers, this collection teaches students how to serve a lyric while maintaining musical integrity across wildly different genres and moods within a single show.