Interestingly, the work that tried to please the least was the most compelling. Hayes Biggs’ piece Ave Formosissima harkens back to the dance-mad, melismatic and slightly raucous music of the Middle Ages. But the score, with its zig-zagging lines and pungent dissonances, is genuinely contemporary.”

—New York Times

A Consuming Fire, a short, zesty trio by Hayes Biggs, led off the evening. The piece is framed by some engagingly angular rhythmic writing, with a lyrical nougat at the center.”

—San Francisco Chronicle

[The] most convincing and coherent performance [was] Hayes Biggs’ homage to his composer/pianist colleague Eric Moe, E.M. am Flügel, a short piece with romantic gestures and echoes of Berg and Stravinsky.”

—Aufbau

The Mass for All Saints would be an exciting challenge for those choirs skilled in precise intonation and rhythmic agility. Biggs writes with knowledge of and respect for the expressive capabilities of the human voice.”

—Choral Journal

Hayes Biggs’s wedding motet Tota Pulchra Es, here being sung for the first time, impressed by its quiet solemnity and neat working of its expressive opening motif: not empty fanfares but a reminder of the seriousness and privacy of love.”

—New York Times

Mass for All Saints by composer Hayes Biggs releases shadows transformed into tendrils of light by the arabesque of the vocal line. Contrapuntal procedures are used to their utmost expressive effect. [It] is a work of a melodist of talent in the manner of Puccini, or better yet, Respighi.”

—La Liberté

The Biggs song, Northeast Reservation Lines, is a real party piece... the sneakiness of the changes, the liveliness of the music and the verve of the performance worked handily... a potential recital hit in the vein of Bernstein’s I Hate Music cycle.”

—The Village Voice

All the works tried a return to tonality typical of the decade; the most successful made the return oblique and ambiguous. Hayes Biggs’ O Sacrum Convivium took off from the motet of Tallis, yet it handsomely reconfigured early modes in a modernistic scheme of free tonality.”

—New York Times

Hayes Biggs’ To Becalme His Fever... is a vivid evocation of anxiety, fits and repose. The language embraces pointillistic colors, romantic lines and prickly episodes when the demons hover. Biggs claims a forceful and subtle dramatic hand, along with a keen command of instrumental resources.”

—The Plain Dealer

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Works

Brass Music

1989

2'

C. F. Peters, Edition Peters 67851: rent on zinfonia.com (https://www.zinfonia.com)

4hn, 3tpt, 2trb, btrb, tba, timp, 2perc

Chamber Music

2020

30'

APNM (Association for the Promotion of New Music)

Violin, Viola, Violoncello, Piano

2015

14'

APNM

Violin and Piano

2013

4'15".

APNM

BTenor Saxophone Solo

2008

9'

APNM

Flute, Violoncello, Piano, Harp

1997

10'

C. F. Peters, Edition Peters 67811 (score), set of parts (67811A); order from https://www.alfred.com

Ob (EH in F), BCl (B Bcl), Hn (F), Vn, Va, Vc, Cb)

1995

9'

Publisher: C. F. Peters Corporation, Edition Peters 67675 (score); set of parts (67675A); order from https://www.alfred.com

Flute (doubling Piccolo and Alto Flute in G), Oboe (doubling English Horn in F) and Piano

1992

10'

C. F. Peters, Edition Peters 67487 (score and part; order from https://www.alfred.com)

Viola and Piano

Choral, Men’s Voices, unaccompanied

1997

4'

C. F. Peters, Edition Peters 67783 (Score); order from https://www.alfred.com

TTBB (with Tenor Solo), from Psalm 51 (English, Latin)

Choral, Men’s Voices, with Instruments

2005

1'

APNM

TTBarB (with divisi), Vc, Hp,
text from an Andalusian folk song (Spanish)

Choral, Mixed Chorus with Organ

1986

4'

C. F. Peters, Edition Peters 67579 (Score); order from https://www.alfred.com

Mixed chorus (with divisi), organ
Text from The Book of Common Prayer (English)

Choral, Mixed Voices, unaccompanied

1974, rev. 2021

4'30

APNM (Assn. for the Promotion of New Music): order from Subito Music Corp. (sales@subitomusic.com.)

SATB Liturgical (Latin)

2021

5'30"

APNM

SSAATTBB, text from the “O Antiphons” (Latin), and the melody and words of a chorale by Philipp Nicolai, 1597 (German)

2014

5'

APNM

SSAATB

2013

2'

APNM

SAATTBB Poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (English)

2012

5'

APNM

SSAATTBB Litugical (Latin)

2011

5'

APNM

SSATTBB, Poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins (English)

2008

2'

APNM

SSAATTB Text: Edmund H. Sears, vs. 2 of “It Came upon the Midnight Clear” (English)

2002

15'

APNM

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone soli, or Chamber Choir Texts: Haiku by Matsuo Basho, Kobayashi Issa, Masaoka Shiki, in English translations by
Robert Hass, Kim Komurasaki and Harold Gould Henderson

1999

15''

APNM

Soprano Solo, SSAATTBB

1998

10'30''

C. F. Peters Corporation, Edition Peters 67678 (Order here)

SSAATTBB Litugical (Latin)

1. Quem vidistis, pastores? (Motet for Christmas) (with Soprano Solo)

2. O Sapientia (Motet for Advent)

3. Videntes stellam (Motet for Epiphany) (with Soprano Solo)

4. Verbum caro factum est (Motet for Christmas)

1998

1'30''

APNM

SSAATTBB, Text from The Trinity Carol Roll (Middle English, anonymous 15th century)

1998

7'

C. F. Peters Corporation, Edition Peters 67949

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone soli, SSSAATTBB Biblical, from the Song of Songs (Latin, English)

1997

1'40''

C.F. Peters Corporation, Edition Peters 67904 (Score; order from https://www.alfred.com)

SSAATTB Text: Psalm 96(95):1-3 Liturgical (Latin)

1993

10'

C. F. Peters, Edition Peters 67612

Soprano,Tenor soli, SSAATTBB Liturgical (Greek, Latin)

Kyrie eleison, Gloria in excelsis, Sanctus and Benedictus, Agnus Dei

1991

4'

C. F. Peters, Edition Peters 67490 (order from https://www.alfred.com)

4 voices unaccompanied (SATB soli or chorus) Litugical (Latin)

1990

3'30''

C. F. Peters Corporation, Edition Peters 67488 (order from alfred.com)

SSSAATTBB Liturgical (Latin)

1989

3'30''

C. F. Peters Corporation, Edition Peters 67489 (Score) order from https://www.alfred.com

SSAATTBB Liturgical (Latin)

1988

4'

APNM

SAATB, arrangement of Gustav Holst’s setting of a poem by Christina Rossetti (English)

1987

3'

C. F. Peters Corporation, Edition Peters 67578 (Score; order from https://www.alfred.com)

SSAATTBB Biblical, Wisdom of Solomon 3:1 (German)

Choral, Treble Voices with Vocal Soloist and Instruments

2008

3'

APNM

Baritone Solo, SA Chorus (with divisi), Hp, Poem by Thomas Hardy (English)

2002

2'30'

APNM

Baritone or Bass Solo, Chorus of Sopranos (two parts), A Fl, Oboe d’amore (A), Vc
(Middle English, 15th century)

2001

2'

APNM

Mezzo-Soprano solo, SSA, 2 flutes, 2 oboe d’amore (A) and finger cymbals (or triangle)
(Middle English, 15th century)

Choral, Treble Voices, unaccompanied

1975; rev. 1999

2'

C. F. Peters, Edition Peters 67946

SSAA Unaccompanied
Text: Liturgical (Latin)
Duration: ca. 2 minutes
Publisher: C. F. Peters Corporation, Edition Peters 67946

2017

10'30"

Contact Composer

SSAA with divisi (up to 8 parts),
Poem by Zsuzsanna Ardó (English)

2004

2'30''

APNM

SSAA unaccompanied, Liturgical (Latin)

Chorus, Treble Voices, with Instruments

2006

2'

APNM

Two Sopranos (Soli or Chorus), Flute
Text: Spanish, from a traditional Andalusian lullaby

Christmas Music (pieces that originated as holiday greetings)

1974, rev. 2021

4'30

APNM (Assn. for the Promotion of New Music): order from Subito Music Corp. (sales@subitomusic.com.)

SATB Liturgical (Latin)

2021

5'30"

APNM

SSAATTBB, text from the “O Antiphons” (Latin), and the melody and words of a chorale by Philipp Nicolai, 1597 (German)

2013

2'

APNM

SAATTBB Poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (English)

2012

5'

APNM

SSAATTBB Litugical (Latin)

2008

3'

APNM

Baritone Solo, SA Chorus (with divisi), Hp, Poem by Thomas Hardy (English)

2008

2'

APNM

SSAATTB Text: Edmund H. Sears, vs. 2 of “It Came upon the Midnight Clear” (English)

2006

2'

APNM

Two Sopranos (Soli or Chorus), Flute
Text: Spanish, from a traditional Andalusian lullaby

2005

1'

APNM

TTBarB (with divisi), Vc, Hp,
text from an Andalusian folk song (Spanish)

2004

2'30''

APNM

SSAA unaccompanied, Liturgical (Latin)

2004

2'

APNM

SSAATTBB
Oboe d’amore
(or English horn)

2002

2'30'

APNM

Baritone or Bass Solo, Chorus of Sopranos (two parts), A Fl, Oboe d’amore (A), Vc
(Middle English, 15th century)

2001

2'

APNM

Mezzo-Soprano solo, SSA, 2 flutes, 2 oboe d’amore (A) and finger cymbals (or triangle)
(Middle English, 15th century)

2000

3'

APNM

SSAATTBB, oboe, English horn
in F, violoncello, and congas
arrangement of a 15th century English carol

1999

15''

APNM

Soprano Solo, SSAATTBB

1998

10'30''

C. F. Peters Corporation, Edition Peters 67678 (Order here)

SSAATTBB Litugical (Latin)

1. Quem vidistis, pastores? (Motet for Christmas) (with Soprano Solo)

2. O Sapientia (Motet for Advent)

3. Videntes stellam (Motet for Epiphany) (with Soprano Solo)

4. Verbum caro factum est (Motet for Christmas)

1998

1'30''

APNM

SSAATTBB, Text from The Trinity Carol Roll (Middle English, anonymous 15th century)

1997

3'

C. F. Peters Corporation, from Four Christmas Motets, Edition Peters 67678

SSAATTBB Liturgical (Latin)

1996

2'30''

C. F. Peters Corporation, from Four Christmas Motets, Edition Peters 67678

Soprano Solo, SSAATTBB Liturgical (Latin)

1995

2'30''

C. F. Peters Corporation, from Four Christmas Motets, Edition Peters 67678 (order from https://www.alfred.com)

SSAATTBB Liturgical (Latin)

1994

2'30''

C. F. Peters Corporation, from Four Christmas Motets, Edition Peters 67678

SSAATTBB Liturgical (Latin)

1990

3'30''

C. F. Peters Corporation, Edition Peters 67488 (order from alfred.com)

SSSAATTBB Liturgical (Latin)

1988

4'

APNM

SAATB, arrangement of Gustav Holst’s setting of a poem by Christina Rossetti (English)

Flute

2008

9'

APNM

Flute, Violoncello, Piano, Harp

1995

9'

Publisher: C. F. Peters Corporation, Edition Peters 67675 (score); set of parts (67675A); order from https://www.alfred.com

Flute (doubling Piccolo and Alto Flute in G), Oboe (doubling English Horn in F) and Piano

Harp

2008

9'

APNM

Flute, Violoncello, Piano, Harp

Mixed Chorus with instruments

2016

5'

APNM (Assn. for the Promotion of New Music): order from Subito Music Corp. (sales@subitomusic.com.)

Soprano Solo, SSSAATTBB, Finger Snapping, Vibra-Slap, Chinese Opera Gong (poem by Jane Shore) (English)

2004

2'

APNM

SSAATTBB
Oboe d’amore
(or English horn)

2003

5'30''

APNM

SSAATTBB, Fl (Picc), Cl in B, Pf; Poetry by Walt Whitman (English)

2002

12'

APNM

Soprano (2), Mezzo-Soprano, Alto (2), Tenor and Bass soli, SSAATTBB, Pf, four hands, and Finger Cymbals (Latin, English)

2000

3'

APNM

SSAATTBB, oboe, English horn
in F, violoncello, and congas
arrangement of a 15th century English carol

1999

15'

Contact Composer

Alto or Countertenor Solo, SSAATTBB, Fl (Picc, A Fl in G), English horn in F, BCl, BBcl, Bsn, C Trp (BFlhn), Perc (1), Hp, Pf, Vc, Cb
(English)

1999

14'

C. F. Peters Corporation, Edition Peters 67947 (score and horn part); order from https://www.alfred.com

Soprano and Alto Soli, SSAATTBB, Horn in F, and Organ Liturgical (Hebrew)

1998

8'

C. F. Peters Corporation, Edition Peters 67948 (Score); 67948A (Set of Parts) order from https://www.alfred.com

Soprano Solo, SSAATTBB, 2 Fl (1=A Fl in G, 2=Picc), Va 1 & 2, Vc, Cb (English)

Oboe

1995

9'

Publisher: C. F. Peters Corporation, Edition Peters 67675 (score); set of parts (67675A); order from https://www.alfred.com

Flute (doubling Piccolo and Alto Flute in G), Oboe (doubling English Horn in F) and Piano

Orchestra, Large Ensemble

2018

12"

APNM (Assn. for the Promotion of New Music): order from Subito Music Corp. (sales@subitomusic.com.)

Saxophone Orchestra: 2BS,
4EA, 2BT, 2EBari, 1BBass

2010

15'30''

APNM

02(EH)12 2200 Timp Strings

2007

3'

APNM

2Picc, 2BCl (Bcl), EASax (EBarSax), BTSax, Tpt, Trb, Tba, Pf; 2perc: Perc. 1: (Steel Pan (Soprano), Pedal Bass Drum, Tambourine with Foot Pedal, Vibraslap (shared w. Perc. 2); Perc. 2: Bongos, Congas, Vibraslap (shared w. Perc. 1), Chinese Opera Gong (upward bending), Marimba (4.5 octave)

1995

15'

C. F. Peters, Edition Peters 67674: Rent on zinfonia.com (https://www.zinfonia.com)

1(Picc)1(EH)1(Bcl)1 1110 Timp, 2 Perc, Strings (solo or sections)

1989

2'

C. F. Peters, Edition Peters 67851: rent on zinfonia.com (https://www.zinfonia.com)

4hn, 3tpt, 2trb, btrb, tba, timp, 2perc

Organ Solo

2010

24'

APNM

Organ Solo

Saxophone Music

2018

12"

APNM (Assn. for the Promotion of New Music): order from Subito Music Corp. (sales@subitomusic.com.)

Saxophone Orchestra: 2BS,
4EA, 2BT, 2EBari, 1BBass

2013

4'15".

APNM

BTenor Saxophone Solo

Strings

2020

30'

APNM (Association for the Promotion of New Music)

Violin, Viola, Violoncello, Piano

2015

14'

APNM

Violin and Piano

1992

10'

C. F. Peters, Edition Peters 67487 (score and part; order from https://www.alfred.com)

Viola and Piano

Voice and Piano (Soprano voice unless otherwise indicated)

1977-78

3'

1. Strings in the Earth and Air
2. O cool is the valley now
(English)

2011

31'

APNM

Texts from the Bible, Michael Wigglesworth, George Herbert, Sri Aurobido Ghose, Jane Kenyon, and Gerard Manley Hopkins (English)

1996

2'30''

C. F. Peters

Holy Bible, King James Version (English)
https://www.edition-peters.com/product/psalm-23/ep67784

1991

3'30''

C. F. Peters Corporation, Edition Peters 67525 (Score); order from https://www.alfred.com

Poem by Robert Greene (English)

1987

4'

Contact Composer

Tenor, Pf; Poem by D.H. Lawrence (English)

1984

3'30''

Margun Music, Inc., available from Music Sales Group and J.W. Pepper

Poem by Jane Shore (English)

1982

5'

Contact Composer

Poem by W.H. Auden (English)

1978

1'30

Contact Composer

From Two Poems from James Joyce’s Chamber Music (English)

1977

2'

Contact Composer

Poem by E.E. Cummings (English)

1977

1'30''

Contact Composer

From Two Poems from James Joyce’s Chamber Music (English)

Voice(s) and Chamber Orchestra

1988

20'

Contact Composer

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor and Bass-Baritone soloists, 2 fl (Picc/A Fl),
ob(EH), clarinet/bass clarinet I, bass clarinet II/contrabass clarinet, horn,
trumpet, trombone, 2 percussion, piano, harp, 4 violins, 2 violas, 2 cellos,
double bass; Poems by Carol Hebald (English)

Voice(s) and Instrument(s)

2007

8'

Contact Composer

Soprano and Mezzo-Soprano soli, Violoncello
Sonnet XLV, from Delia, 1592, by Samuel Daniel (English)

2004

8'

APNM

Narrator, Soprano and Mezzo-Soprano Soli, B Cl (doubling BBcl, EA Sax (doubling EBari Sax), BT Sax (doubling BS Sax, Perc (1), Pf (Hebrew, English)

1994

5'30''

C. F. Peters, Edition Peters 67621 (Score); 67621A (Set of Parts); order from https://www.alfred.com

Female Voice and and 4 violoncelli Poem by
Gabriele d’Annunzio (Italian)

1989

8'

C. F. Peters, Edition Peters 67577 (Score); 67577A (Score and Viola Part); order from alfred.com)

Tenor, Va, Pf (English)

1985

15'

C. F. Peters, Edition Peters 67485 (Score), 67485A (Set of Parts); order from https://alfred.com

Soprano, Fl/A Fl (G)/Picc, Cl (A/B♭)/Bcl (B), Vn, Vc, Pf (English)

rev. 1987

1985;

10'

C. F. Peters, Edition Peters 67529 (Score), 67529A (Set of Parts); order from https://alfred.com)

Soprano (who preferably also plays claves and tambourine, though a separate percussionist may be used), BCl, Vc Text: From Carmina Burana (Latin)

Woodwinds

2013

4'15".

APNM

BTenor Saxophone Solo

2008

9'

APNM

Flute, Violoncello, Piano, Harp

1995

9'

Publisher: C. F. Peters Corporation, Edition Peters 67675 (score); set of parts (67675A); order from https://www.alfred.com

Flute (doubling Piccolo and Alto Flute in G), Oboe (doubling English Horn in F) and Piano

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