“ 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
Hayes Biggs, Composer
Works
Brass Music
Chamber Music
Choral, Men’s Voices, unaccompanied
Choral, Men’s Voices, with Instruments
Choral, Mixed Chorus with Organ
Choral, Mixed Voices, unaccompanied
Choral, Treble Voices with Vocal Soloist and Instruments
Choral, Treble Voices, unaccompanied
Chorus, Treble Voices, with Instruments
Christmas Music (pieces that originated as holiday greetings)
Flute
Harp
Mixed Chorus with instruments
Oboe
Orchestra, Large Ensemble
Organ Solo
Piano Solo
Saxophone Music
Strings
Voice and Piano (Soprano voice unless otherwise indicated)
Voice(s) and Chamber Orchestra
Voice(s) and Instrument(s)
Woodwinds
Brass Music
Chamber Music
10'
C. F. Peters, Edition Peters 67811 (score), set of parts (67811A); order from https://www.alfred.com
Ob (EH in F), B♭Cl (B♭ Bcl), Hn (F), Vn, Va, Vc, Cb)
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
Choral, Men’s Voices, unaccompanied
Choral, Men’s Voices, with Instruments
Choral, Mixed Chorus with Organ
Choral, Mixed Voices, unaccompanied
4'30
APNM (Assn. for the Promotion of New Music): order from Subito Music Corp. (sales@subitomusic.com.)
SATB Liturgical (Latin)
5'30"
APNM
SSAATTBB, text from the “O Antiphons” (Latin), and the melody and words of a chorale by Philipp Nicolai, 1597 (German)
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
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)
1'30''
APNM
SSAATTBB, Text from The Trinity Carol Roll (Middle English, anonymous 15th century)
7'
C. F. Peters Corporation, Edition Peters 67949
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor, Baritone soli, SSSAATTBB Biblical, from the Song of Songs (Latin, English)
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)
10'
C. F. Peters, Edition Peters 67612
Soprano,Tenor soli, SSAATTBB Liturgical (Greek, Latin)
Kyrie eleison, Gloria in excelsis, Sanctus and Benedictus, Agnus Dei
4'
C. F. Peters, Edition Peters 67490 (order from https://www.alfred.com)
4 voices unaccompanied (SATB soli or chorus) Litugical (Latin)
3'30''
C. F. Peters Corporation, Edition Peters 67488 (order from alfred.com)
SSSAATTBB Liturgical (Latin)
3'30''
C. F. Peters Corporation, Edition Peters 67489 (Score) order from https://www.alfred.com
SSAATTBB Liturgical (Latin)
Choral, Treble Voices with Vocal Soloist and Instruments
2'30'
APNM
Baritone or Bass Solo, Chorus of Sopranos (two parts), A Fl, Oboe d’amore (A), Vc
(Middle English, 15th century)
Choral, Treble Voices, unaccompanied
2'
C. F. Peters, Edition Peters 67946
SSAA Unaccompanied
Text: Liturgical (Latin)
Duration: ca. 2 minutes
Publisher: C. F. Peters Corporation, Edition Peters 67946
Chorus, Treble Voices, with Instruments
Christmas Music (pieces that originated as holiday greetings)
4'30
APNM (Assn. for the Promotion of New Music): order from Subito Music Corp. (sales@subitomusic.com.)
SATB Liturgical (Latin)
5'30"
APNM
SSAATTBB, text from the “O Antiphons” (Latin), and the melody and words of a chorale by Philipp Nicolai, 1597 (German)
2'
APNM
Two Sopranos (Soli or Chorus), Flute
Text: Spanish, from a traditional Andalusian lullaby
2'30'
APNM
Baritone or Bass Solo, Chorus of Sopranos (two parts), A Fl, Oboe d’amore (A), Vc
(Middle English, 15th century)
2'
APNM
Mezzo-Soprano solo, SSA, 2 flutes, 2 oboe d’amore (A) and finger cymbals (or triangle)
(Middle English, 15th century)
3'
APNM
SSAATTBB, oboe, English horn
in F, violoncello, and congas
arrangement of a 15th century English carol
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)
1'30''
APNM
SSAATTBB, Text from The Trinity Carol Roll (Middle English, anonymous 15th century)
3'
C. F. Peters Corporation, from Four Christmas Motets, Edition Peters 67678
SSAATTBB Liturgical (Latin)
2'30''
C. F. Peters Corporation, from Four Christmas Motets, Edition Peters 67678
Soprano Solo, SSAATTBB Liturgical (Latin)
2'30''
C. F. Peters Corporation, from Four Christmas Motets, Edition Peters 67678 (order from https://www.alfred.com)
SSAATTBB Liturgical (Latin)
2'30''
C. F. Peters Corporation, from Four Christmas Motets, Edition Peters 67678
SSAATTBB Liturgical (Latin)
3'30''
C. F. Peters Corporation, Edition Peters 67488 (order from alfred.com)
SSSAATTBB Liturgical (Latin)
Flute
Harp
Mixed Chorus with instruments
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)
12'
APNM
Soprano (2), Mezzo-Soprano, Alto (2), Tenor and Bass soli, SSAATTBB, Pf, four hands, and Finger Cymbals (Latin, English)
3'
APNM
SSAATTBB, oboe, English horn
in F, violoncello, and congas
arrangement of a 15th century English carol
15'
Contact Composer
Alto or Countertenor Solo, SSAATTBB, Fl (Picc, A Fl in G), English horn in F, B♭Cl, B♭Bcl, Bsn, C Trp (B♭Flhn), Perc (1), Hp, Pf, Vc, Cb
(English)
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)
Oboe
Orchestra, Large Ensemble
12"
APNM (Assn. for the Promotion of New Music): order from Subito Music Corp. (sales@subitomusic.com.)
Saxophone Orchestra: 2B♭S,
4E♭A, 2B♭T, 2E♭Bari, 1B♭Bass
3'
APNM
2Picc, 2B♭Cl (Bcl), E♭ASax (E♭BarSax), B♭TSax, 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)
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)
Organ Solo
Piano Solo
2'40"
APNM (Assn. for the Promotion of New Music): order from Subito Music Corp. (sales@subitomusic.com.)
Saxophone Music
Strings
Voice and Piano (Soprano voice unless otherwise indicated)
31'
APNM
Texts from the Bible, Michael Wigglesworth, George Herbert, Sri Aurobido Ghose, Jane Kenyon, and Gerard Manley Hopkins (English)
2'30''
C. F. Peters
Holy Bible, King James Version (English)
https://www.edition-peters.com/product/psalm-23/ep67784
3'30''
C. F. Peters Corporation, Edition Peters 67525 (Score); order from https://www.alfred.com
Poem by Robert Greene (English)
3'30''
Margun Music, Inc., available from Music Sales Group and J.W. Pepper
Poem by Jane Shore (English)
Voice(s) and Chamber Orchestra
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)
8'
Contact Composer
Soprano and Mezzo-Soprano soli, Violoncello
Sonnet XLV, from Delia, 1592, by Samuel Daniel (English)
8'
APNM
Narrator, Soprano and Mezzo-Soprano Soli, B♭ Cl (doubling B♭Bcl, E♭A Sax (doubling E♭Bari Sax), B♭T Sax (doubling B♭S Sax, Perc (1), Pf (Hebrew, English)
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)
8'
C. F. Peters, Edition Peters 67577 (Score); 67577A (Score and Viola Part); order from alfred.com)
Tenor, Va, Pf (English)
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)
Featured Audio —
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