This is a list of compositions by Jake Heggie sorted by genre, date of composition, and title.
Genre | Date | Title | Text | Orchestration | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Opera | 2000 | Dead Man Walking | Libretto by Terrence McNally | An opera in two acts | Based on the novel of the same name by Sister Helen Prejean. Commissioned by San Francisco Opera. |
Opera | 2019 | If I Were You | Libretto by Gene Scheer | An opera in two acts | Based on the novel Si j'etais vous By Julien Green. Commissioned by the Merola Opera program. |
Opera | 2000 | Again | Libretto by Kevin Gregory | Operatic scene for four solo voices (soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor and baritone) with chamber orchestra | Commissioned by the EOS Orchestra (Jonathan Sheffer, music director). |
Opera | 2003 | The End of the Affair | Libretto by Heather McDonald | An opera in two acts | Based on the novel of the same name by Graham Greene. Commissioned by Houston Grand Opera. Revised in 2004–2005. |
Opera | 2005 | At the Statue of Venus | Libretto by Terrence McNally | A musical scene for soprano and piano | Commissioned by Opera Colorado. |
Opera | 2006 | To Hell and Back | Libretto by Gene Scheer | An opera in one act for soprano, Broadway soprano and period instrument orchestra | Commissioned by Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra. |
Opera | 2008 | Three Decembers | Libretto by Gene Scheer | An opera in one act | Based on Terrence McNally’s original script, "Some Christmas Letters." Commissioned by the Houston Grand Opera and co-commissioned by the San Francisco Opera in association with Cal Performances at UC Berkeley. |
Opera | 2010 | Moby-Dick | Libretto by Gene Scheer | An opera in two acts | Based on the novel of the same name by Herman Melville. Commissioned by Dallas Opera, San Francisco Opera, Calgary Opera, San Diego Opera and the State Opera of South Australia. |
Opera | 2012 | Another Sunrise | Libretto by Gene Scheer | Dramatic scene for soprano, clarinet, violin, cello, bass, and piano | Commissioned by Music of Remembrance (Mina Miller, artistic director) |
Opera | 2013 | Out of Darkness | Libretto by Gene Scheer | Opera in three parts for soprano, mezzo-soprano, baritone, actor, with flute, clarinet, violin, cello, bass and piano | Opera in three parts:
Commissioned by Music of Remembrance (Mina Miller, artistic director). Each part received its premiere individually by Music of Remembrance. |
Opera | 2014 | The Radio Hour | Libretto by Gene Scheer | Chamber opera for chamber choir, silent actress, flute, clarinet, alto sax, percussion, piano, violin, cello, and bass | Commissioned by Pacific Chorale, VocalEssence, Conspirare, and The Philadelphia Singers. |
Opera | 2015 | Great Scott | Libretto by Terrence McNally | An opera in two acts | Based on an original story by Terrence McNally. Commissioned by Dallas Opera and co-produced with San Diego Opera. |
Vocal | 1992 | Trois poemes de interieurs de Rainer Maria Rilke | Text by Rainer Maria Rilke | For baritone and piano |
Unpublished. |
Vocal | 1995 | Encountertenor | Lyrics by John Hall | For countertenor and piano |
Commissioned by Brian Asawa. |
Vocal | 1995 | Three Folk Songs | Traditional | For mezzo-soprano and piano |
Dedicated to Frederica von Stade. |
Vocal | 1995 | I shall not live in vain | Poetry by Emily Dickinson | For mezzo-soprano and piano, and for mezzo-soprano solo with SA chorus, hand bells and piano | Song originally written in 1995, expanded and arranged for mezzo-soprano with SA chorus, hand bells and piano in 1998. |
Vocal | 1996 | On the Road to Christmas | Texts by A.E. Housman, Frederica von Stade, John Jacob Niles, Emily Dickinson and Jake Heggie | For mezzo-soprano and string orchestra |
Commissioned by the New Century Chamber Orchestra. |
Vocal | 1996 | My true love hath my heart | Poetry by Sir Philip Sydney | For soprano, cello and piano | Also arranged as a duet for soprano, mezzo, cello and piano. |
Vocal | 1996 | Thoughts Unspoken | Lyrics by John Hall | For baritone and piano |
Commissioned by Earle Patriarco. |
Vocal | 1997 | Natural Selection | Poetry by Gini Savage | For soprano and piano |
Music and poetry composed for Nicolle Foland. |
Vocal | 1997 | So Many Notes! | Text by Jake Heggie | For 11 singers and orchestra | Commissioned by San Francisco Opera to celebrate its 75th Season and the reopening of the War Memorial Opera House. Unpublished. |
Vocal | 1997 | Paper Wings | Lyrics by Frederica von Stade | For mezzo-soprano and piano, and for mezzo-soprano and full orchestra |
Commissioned by Frederica von Stade and dedicated to her daughter, Lisa Elkus. Orchestration commissioned by the Louisville Orchestra in 2000. |
Vocal | 1998 | Before the Storm | Poetry by Judyth Walker, Emily Dickinson, Edna St. Vincent Millay and Dorothy Parker | For mezzo-soprano, cello and piano |
Dedicated to Zheng Cao. Three songs based on works written in 1986, revised in 1998. |
Vocal | 1998 | Songs to the Moon | Poetry by Vachal Lindsay | For mezzo-soprano and piano |
Commissioned for Frederica von Stade by MUSIC ACCORD. |
Vocal | 1998 | Everyone Sang | Poetry by Siegfried Sassoon | For baritone and piano | Unpublished. |
Vocal | 1999 | Song and Sonnets to Ophelia | Text by Edna St. Vincent Millay and Jake Heggie | For soprano and piano |
Composed for Peggy Kriha-Dye. |
Vocal | 1999 | Patterns | Poetry by Amy Lowell | For mezzo-soprano, SSAA chorus and piano | Commissioned by San Francisco Girls Chorus to celebrate its 20th anniversary. |
Vocal | 1999 | From Emily's Garden | Poetry by Emily Dickinson | For soprano, flute, violin, cello, and piano | Unpublished. |
Vocal | 2000 | Of Gods and Cats | Poetry by Gavin Geoffrey Dillard | For mezzo-soprano and piano |
Commissioned by Vija Nadai. |
Vocal | 2000 | How Well I Knew The Light | Poetry by Emily Dickinson | For soprano and piano |
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Vocal | 2000 | Eve-Song | Poetry by Philip Littell | For soprano and piano |
Commissioned by James Schwabacher. |
Vocal | 2001 | The Starry Night | Poetry by Ann Sexton, Emily Dickinson, and A. E. Housman, with texts by Vincent van Gogh | For mezzo-soprano and piano | Commissioned for mezzo-soprano Kristine Jepson by Evolutions in Song. |
Vocal | 2002 | A Great Hope Fell: Songs from Civil War | Texts by Maya Angelou, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Emily Dickinson, Stephen Foster and others | For baritone and chamber orchestra | Commissioned by the Eos Orchestra (Jonathan Sheffer, conductor) for baritone Gordon Hawkins. Unpublished. |
Vocal | 2002 | The Deepest Desire | Text by Sister Helen Prejean | For mezzo-soprano and piano, and for mezzo-soprano and chamber orchestra |
Commissioned by Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival. Orchestration commissioned by the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra in 2005. |
Vocal | 2004 | Some Times of Day | Text by Raymond Carver | For mezzo-soprano, violin, cello and piano |
Commissioned by the Harmida Trio. |
Vocal | 2004 | Winter Roses | Poetry by Charlene Baldridge, Emily Dickinson, Frederica von Stade and Raymond Carver | For mezzo-soprano, string quintet, wind quintet and piano |
Prologue: Winter Roses (Baldridge) I. Two Birds
II. Three Shades (in memoriam C.v.S.)
III. Looking West
Epilogue: Late Fragment (Carver) Commissioned by Richard and Luci Janssen for Camerata Pacifica. |
Vocal | 2004 | Vanity (blah blah me) | Text by Jake Heggie | For soprano and piano, and for soprano, clarinet, cello, bass, piano and percussion | Commissioned by Carnegie Hall for Audra McDonald as part of a new cycle, “The Seven Deadly Sins” (also featuring compositions contributed by Michael John LaChiusa, Stephen Flaherty, Ricky Ian Gordon and others). |
Vocal | 2004 | Grow Old Along With Me! | Poetry by Robert Browning | For baritone and piano | Composed as a gift for baritone Robert Orth. |
Vocal | 2005 | Statuesque | Text by Gene Scheer | For mezzo-soprano and piano; also, with chamber orchestra accompaniment |
Commissioned by University of Kansas at Lawrence for mezzo-soprano Joyce Castle. |
Vocal | 2005 | Here and Gone | Poetry by A.E. Housman and Vachal Lindsay | For tenor and baritone with violin, viola, cello and piano |
Commissioned by Welz Kaufman and the Ravinia Festival for the Stearns Institute for Young Artists. |
Vocal | 2005 | The Other Other Woman | Lyrics by Mark Campbell | For male voice and piano | From Songs from an Unmade Bed, a stage work that features 18 songs by various composers with lyrics by Mark Campbell. |
Vocal | 2007 | Facing Forward/Looking Back | Poetry by Charlene Baldridge, Eugenia Zukerman, Raymond Carver, Armistead Maupin and Jake Heggie | For soprano and mezzo-soprano with piano | Commissioned by Welz Kaufman and the Ravinia Festival for the Stearns Institute for Young Artists. |
Vocal | 2007 | Final monologue from Master Class | Text by Terrence McNally | For mezzo-soprano and piano | Composed for mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Merola Opera Program and to remember the late James Schwabacher. |
Vocal | 2008 | Friendly Persuasions: Homage to Poulenc | Poetry by Gene Scheer | For tenor and piano |
Based on four transformative friendships and meetings in Francis Poulenc’s life. |
Vocal | 2011 | Pieces of 9/11: Memories from Houston | Texts by Gene Scheer | For soprano, baritone and girl soprano (age 14–18) with flute, guitar, violin and cello |
Commissioned by Houston Grand Opera. |
Vocal | 2011 | A Question of Light | Texts by Gene Scheer | For baritone and piano |
Commissioned by Dallas Opera in association with the Dallas Museum of Art for baritone Nathan Gunn. |
Vocal | 2011 | The Years Roll By | Text by Charles Hart | For soprano and mezzo-soprano with piano | Composed for soprano Kiri Te Kanawa and mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade. |
Vocal | 2011 | The Breaking Waves | Text by Sister Helen Prejean | For mezzo-soprano and piano | Commissioned by Carnegie Hall for mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato and pianist David Zobel. |
Vocal | 2012 | Farewell, Auschwitz | Texts adapted by Gene Scheer | For soprano, mezzo-soprano, baritone and piano, or with clarinet, violin, cello, bass, and piano |
Commissioned by Music of Remembrance (Mina Miller, Artistic Director). |
Vocal | 2012 | Camille Claudel: Into the Fire | Text by Gene Scheer | For mezzo-soprano and string quartet |
Commissioned by San Francisco Performances. |
Vocal | 2012 | Of Laughter and Farewell | Poetry by Vachal Lindsay | For tenor or baritone and piano |
Commissioned by Ravinia Festival (2012) and Opera America (2013). |
Vocal | 2013 | From "The Book of Nightmares" | Poetry by Galway Kinnell | For soprano, cello and piano |
Composed for soprano Lisa Delan. |
Vocal | 2013 | For a Look or a Touch (song cycle) | Libretto by Gene Scheer | For baritone and piano, or baritone with flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano | Originally commissioned by Music of Remembrance as a stage work, the song cycle version was created in 2013. |
Vocal | 2014 | Newer Every Day: Songs for Kiri | Poetry by Emily Dickinson | For soprano and piano |
Commissioned by the Ravinia Festival in celebration of Dame Kiri Te Kanawa’s 70th Birthday. |
Vocal | 2015 | The Work at Hand | Poetry by Laura Morefield | For mezzo-soprano, cello and piano; also for mezzo-soprano, cello and orchestra | Three symphonic songs based on poetry by the late Laura Morefield (1961–2011). Commissioned for mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton and cellist Anne Martindale Williams by Carnegie Hall and the Pittsburgh Symphony. |
Orchestral | 2001 | "Cut Time" Variations | For piano and chamber orchestra | Commissioned by the Eos Orchestra (Jonathan Sheffer, conductor) for pianist Jeremy Denk. | |
Orchestral | 2002 | Orchestral episodes from Dead Man Walking | For full orchestra | Commissioned by the Dallas Symphony (Andrew Litton, music director). | |
Orchestral | 2002 | Holy the Firm: an essay for cello and orchestra | Inspired by the novel of the same name by Annie Dillard | For solo cello and orchestra | Commissioned by the Oakland East Bay Symphony (Michael Morgan, conductor) for Emil Miland, cellist. |
Orchestral | 2013 | Ahab Symphony | Texts by Herman Melville (from "Moby-Dick") and W.H. Auden (from his poem, “Herman Melville”) | For tenor solo, SATB choir and full orchestra | Commissioned by the University of North Texas. |
Choral | 1987 | Faith Disquiet | Poetry by Emily Dickinson | For SATB Chorus (a cappella) |
Commissioned by the UCLA Choir (William Hatcher, conductor). |
Choral | 1999 | Anna Madrigal Remembers | Text by Armistead Maupin | For mezzo-soprano and 12 solo male voices | Commissioned by Chanticleer. Unpublished. |
Choral | 2001 | My Grandmother's Love Letters | Poetry by Hart Crane | For SATB Chorus and orchestra | Commissioned by the Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia (Donald Nally, artistic director). |
Choral | 2003 | He will gather us around from Dead Man Walking | Libretto by Terrence McNally | For SATB Chorus (a cappella) | An arrangement of the original hymn tune from the opera, Dead Man Walking. |
Choral | 2006 | Seeking Higher Ground: Bruce Springsteen Rocks New Orleans, April 30, 2006 | Text by Sister Helen Prejean | For double SATB chorus with full orchestra | Commissioned by Pacific Chorale. |
Choral | 2011 | A Hundred Thousand Stars from A Look or a Touch | Text by Gene Scheer | For TTBB Chorus and piano, or with flute, clarinet, violin, cello, and piano | This chorus was added to For a Look or a Touch when the original stage work was expanded for the Seattle Men’s Chorus in 2011. |
Choral | 2012 | Six Christmas Traditions | Lyrics by Mark Campbell | For SATB choir with piano, flute and oboe | Commissioned by Renaissance City Choirs (Pittsburgh, PA). |
Choral | 2013 | For a Look or a Touch (choral) | Libretto by Gene Scheer | For baritone, men’s chorus, actor, flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano and percussion | Originally commissioned by Music of Remembrance, this second incarnation was commissioned by the Seattle Men’s Chorus and The Boston Gay Men’s Chorus. |
Choral | 2013 | The Narrow Bridge | Text by Pamela Stewart | For TTBB Chorus | Final movement of Tyler's Suite, featuring compositions by Nolan Gasser, Stephen Schwartz, Ann Hampton Callaway, John Corigliano, John Bucchino, and Lance Horne. Commissioned by the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. |
Choral | 2015 | Stop This Day and Night with Me | Poetry from Walt Whitman’s "Leaves of Grass" | For SATB chorus (a cappella) | Composed for The King’s Singers as The Raymond W. Brock Commission for the American Choral Directors Association. |
Instrumental | 1982 | Indiana Bound | For piano | Unpublished. | |
Instrumental | 1983 | Inishfallen | Suite for piano | Unpublished. | |
Instrumental | 1984 | Lugalla | For string quartet | Unpublished. | |
Instrumental | 1985 | Glengariff Trio | For violin, cello and piano | Unpublished. | |
Instrumental | 1985 | Inishfree | For two pianos | Unpublished. | |
Instrumental | 1986 | Skellig Variations | For two pianos | Unpublished. | |
Instrumental | 1987 | Rhosymedre | For two pianos | Unpublished. | |
Instrumental | 1988 | One Day at the Duck Pond: illustrations with music to write stories to (children's book) | Drawings and music by Jake Heggie | For piano | Unpublished. |
Instrumental | 1990 | Divertimento | For two pianos | Unpublished. | |
Instrumental | 1991 | Christmas Nocturnes | For piano |
Arrangement by Jake Heggie. Unpublished. | |
Instrumental | 1996 | Coward/Cabaret | For cello and piano |
Music by Noël Coward, arrangement by Jake Heggie. Unpublished. | |
Instrumental | 2010 | Fury of Light | Inspired by Mary Oliver's poem, Sunrise | For flute and piano; also for flute and chamber orchestra | Commissioned for flutist Carol Wincenc by Linda & Stuart Nelson. Orchestration created in 2010. |
Instrumental | 2012 | Orcas Island Ferry | Suite for violin/viola and piano |
Commissioned by the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival. | |
Instrumental | 2012 | Soliloquy | For flute and piano | A setting of the song Beyond (from Pieces of 9/11) commissioned by Camerata Pacifica (Adrian Spence, artistic director). |