This is a list of compositions by Jake Heggie sorted by genre, date of composition, and title.
GenreDateTitleTextOrchestrationNotes Opera2000 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 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 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.Opera 2019If I Were You Libretto by Gene ScheerAn opera in two actsBased on the novel Si j'etais vous By Julien Green. Commissioned by the Merola Opera program. Opera2023 Intelligence Libretto by Gene Scheer An opera in two acts Commissioned by Houston Grand Opera. Opera 2026 The Judgment of Paris unknown librettist An opera in one act Based on The Judgment of Paris. Commissioned by Festival Napa Valley. 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 Vachel 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 Vachel 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)