List of compositions by Jake Heggie

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:
  1. Another Sunrise
  2. Farewell, Auschwitz
  3. For a Look or a Touch

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
  1. Portrait intérieure
  2. La porteuse de fleurs
  3. Epilogue: C’est pour t’avoir vue

Unpublished.

Vocal 1995 Encountertenor Lyrics by John Hall For countertenor and piano
  1. Countertenor’s Conundrum
  2. The trouble with trebles in trousers … (Pitch can be a bitch!)
  3. A Gift to Share

Commissioned by Brian Asawa.

Vocal 1995 Three Folk Songs Traditional For mezzo-soprano and piano
  1. Barb'ry Allen
  2. He's Gone Away
  3. The Leather-Winged Bat

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
  1. The Night is Freezing Fast (A.E. Housman)
  2. The Car Ride to Christmas (von Stade)
  3. Good King Merrily on High (traditional)
  4. I wonder as I wander (Niles)
  5. The Road to Bethlehem (Dickinson)
  6. And then the Setting Sun (von Stade)
  7. Christmas Time of Year (Heggie)

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
  1. A learning experience over coffee…
  2. You enter my thoughts
  3. To speak of love
  4. Unspoken thoughts at bedtime

Commissioned by Earle Patriarco.

Vocal 1997 Natural Selection Poetry by Gini Savage For soprano and piano
  1. Creation
  2. Animal Passion
  3. Alas! Alack!
  4. Indian Summer – Blue
  5. Connection

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
  1. Bedtime Story
  2. Paper Wings
  3. Mitten Smitten
  4. A Route to the Sky

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
  1. Before the Storm (Walker)
  2. It sounded as if the streets were running (Dickinson)
  3. What lips my lips have kissed (Millay)
  4. The Thin Edge (Parker)

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
  1. Prologue: Once More – To Gloriana
  2. Euclid
  3. The Haughty Snail-King
  4. What the Rattlesnake Said
  5. The Moon’s the North Wind’s Cooky (What the little girl said)
  6. What the Scarecrow Said
  7. What the Gray-Winged Fairy Said
  8. Yet Gentle Will the Griffin Be (What Grandpa told the children)

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
  1. The Spring is Arisen; Ophelia’s Song (Heggie)
  2. Women have loved before as I love now (Edna St. Vincent Millay)
  3. Not in a silver casket cool with pearls (Millay)
  4. Spring (Millay)

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
  1. In the beginning …
  2. Once upon a universe

Commissioned by Vija Nadai.

Vocal 2000 How Well I Knew The Light Poetry by Emily Dickinson For soprano and piano
  1. Ample Make This Bed
  2. The Sun Kept Setting
Vocal 2000 Eve-Song Poetry by Philip Littell For soprano and piano
  1. My name
  2. Even
  3. Good
  4. Listen
  5. Snake
  6. Woe to Man
  7. The Wound
  8. The Farm

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
  1. The Call; More is required; Love
  2. I catch on fire
  3. The deepest desire
  4. Primary colors

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
  1. The Minuet
  2. Simple
  3. The Best Time of the Day

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

1. The Wren (Baldridge)
2. The Robin (Dickinson)

II. Three Shades (in memoriam C.v.S.)

3. A Hero (von Stade)
4. Sleeping (Carver)
5. To My Dad (von Stade)

III. Looking West

6. Sweet Light (Carver)

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
  1. Henry Moore: Reclining Figure of Elmwood
  2. Pablo Picasso: Head of a Woman, 1932
  3. Hapshetsut: The Divine Potter
  4. Alberto Giacommetti: Standing Woman #2
  5. Winged Victory: We’re Through

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
  1. The Farms of Home (Housman)
  2. In Praise of Songs That Die (Lindsay)
  3. Stars (Housman)
  4. The Factory Window Song (Lindsay)
  5. In the Morning (Housman)
  6. Because I Liked You Better (Housman)
  7. The Half-Moon Westers Low (Housman)

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
  1. Wanda Landowska
  2. Pierre Bernac
  3. Raymonde Linossier
  4. Paul Eluard

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
  1. Prelude; Lauren
  2. Lessons
  3. Phone Calls
  4. That Moment On
  5. Beyond
  6. An Open Book

Commissioned by Houston Grand Opera.

Vocal 2011 A Question of Light Texts by Gene Scheer For baritone and piano
  1. The Light of Coincidences (Magritte)
  2. Eccentric Flint (Maya c. AD 600–900)
  3. Yellow Flowers in a Vase (Caillebotte)
  4. Place de la Concorde (Mondrian)
  5. El Hombre (Tamayo)
  6. Watch (Murphy)

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
  1. Prologue: For Maria
  2. Soldiers
  3. Diamonds
  4. In the Cards
  5. Irenka
  6. Miss Ziutka
  7. The Sun and the Skylark
  8. Farewell, Auschwitz

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
  1. Rodin
  2. La Valse
  3. Shakuntala
  4. La petite châtelaine
  5. The Gossips
  6. L’age mûr
  7. Epilogue: Jessie Lipscomb visits Camille Claudel, Montdevergues Asylum, 1929

Commissioned by San Francisco Performances.

Vocal 2012 Of Laughter and Farewell Poetry by Vachal Lindsay For tenor or baritone and piano
  1. By The Spring, At Sunset
  2. Under the Blessing of Your Psyche Wings

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
  1. You Scream
  2. In A Restaurant
  3. My Father’s Eyes
  4. Back You Go

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
  1. Silence
  2. I’m Nobody! Who are You?
  3. Fame
  4. That I did always love
  5. Goodnight

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)
  1. “Why do I love” You, Sir?
  2. What if I say I shall not wait!
  3. If you were coming in the fall

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
  1. Est is ein Ros’
  2. Coventry Carol
  3. O Come, Emanuel
  4. The Holly and the Ivy
  5. I Saw Three Ships
  6. I Wonder as I Wander
  7. Silent Night

Arrangement by Jake Heggie. Unpublished.

Instrumental 1996 Coward/Cabaret For cello and piano
  1. Mad About the Boy
  2. Someday I’ll Find You
  3. Meme les anges

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
  1. Crossing
  2. On and Off
  3. The Shoreline Lullabye
  4. Whistling and Listening
  5. In Tows and Threes (Motor Rhythm)

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).