# 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: Another Sunrise Farewell, Auschwitz 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 | Portrait intérieure La porteuse de fleurs Epilogue: C’est pour t’avoir vue Unpublished. |
| Vocal | 1995 | Encountertenor | Lyrics by John Hall | For countertenor and piano | Countertenor’s Conundrum The trouble with trebles in trousers … (Pitch can be a bitch!) A Gift to Share Commissioned by Brian Asawa. |
| Vocal | 1995 | Three Folk Songs | Traditional | For mezzo-soprano and piano | Barb'ry Allen He's Gone Away 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 | The Night is Freezing Fast (A.E. Housman) The Car Ride to Christmas (von Stade) Good King Merrily on High (traditional) I wonder as I wander (Niles) The Road to Bethlehem (Dickinson) And then the Setting Sun (von Stade) 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 | A learning experience over coffee… You enter my thoughts To speak of love Unspoken thoughts at bedtime Commissioned by Earle Patriarco. |
| Vocal | 1997 | Natural Selection | Poetry by Gini Savage | For soprano and piano | Creation Animal Passion Alas! Alack! Indian Summer – Blue 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 | Bedtime Story Paper Wings Mitten Smitten 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 | Before the Storm (Walker) It sounded as if the streets were running (Dickinson) What lips my lips have kissed (Millay) 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 | Prologue: Once More – To Gloriana Euclid The Haughty Snail-King What the Rattlesnake Said The Moon’s the North Wind’s Cooky (What the little girl said) What the Scarecrow Said What the Gray-Winged Fairy Said 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 | The Spring is Arisen; Ophelia’s Song (Heggie) Women have loved before as I love now (Edna St. Vincent Millay) Not in a silver casket cool with pearls (Millay) 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 | In the beginning … Once upon a universe Commissioned by Vija Nadai. |
| Vocal | 2000 | How Well I Knew The Light | Poetry by Emily Dickinson | For soprano and piano | Ample Make This Bed The Sun Kept Setting |
| Vocal | 2000 | Eve-Song | Poetry by Philip Littell | For soprano and piano | My name Even Good Listen Snake Woe to Man The Wound 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 | The Call; More is required; Love I catch on fire The deepest desire 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 | The Minuet Simple 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 | Henry Moore: Reclining Figure of Elmwood Pablo Picasso: Head of a Woman, 1932 Hapshetsut: The Divine Potter Alberto Giacommetti: Standing Woman #2 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 | The Farms of Home (Housman) In Praise of Songs That Die (Lindsay) Stars (Housman) The Factory Window Song (Lindsay) In the Morning (Housman) Because I Liked You Better (Housman) 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 | Wanda Landowska Pierre Bernac Raymonde Linossier 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 | Prelude; Lauren Lessons Phone Calls That Moment On Beyond An Open Book Commissioned by Houston Grand Opera. |
| Vocal | 2011 | A Question of Light | Texts by Gene Scheer | For baritone and piano | The Light of Coincidences (Magritte) Eccentric Flint (Maya c. AD 600–900) Yellow Flowers in a Vase (Caillebotte) Place de la Concorde (Mondrian) El Hombre (Tamayo) 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 | Prologue: For Maria Soldiers Diamonds In the Cards Irenka Miss Ziutka The Sun and the Skylark 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 | Rodin La Valse Shakuntala La petite châtelaine The Gossips L’age mûr 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 | By The Spring, At Sunset 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 | You Scream In A Restaurant My Father’s Eyes 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 | Silence I’m Nobody! Who are You? Fame That I did always love 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) | “Why do I love” You, Sir? What if I say I shall not wait! 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 | Est is ein Ros’ Coventry Carol O Come, Emanuel The Holly and the Ivy I Saw Three Ships I Wonder as I Wander Silent Night Arrangement by Jake Heggie. Unpublished. |
| Instrumental | 1996 | Coward/Cabaret | | For cello and piano | Mad About the Boy Someday I’ll Find You 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 | Crossing On and Off The Shoreline Lullabye Whistling and Listening 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). |