Biography : Curriculum Vitae : Publications
All works registered with Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI).
Solo Piano
Mestiere, for piano (1979) No. 140-40044 ca. 5 minutes
Chamber
Tartini, for violin and piano (1972) No. 144-40324 ca. 7 minutes
Tenzone, for two flutes and piano (1975) No. 144-40066 ca. 9 minutes
Trio, for violin, violoncello and piano (1976) No. 144-40065 ca. 13 minutes
Traverso, for flute and piano (1987) No. 144-40149 ca. 7 minutes
Orchestra
At the Still Point, for orchestra (1977) (on rental) No. 446-41074 ca. 13 minutes
Four groups: Highs (2 Fls., 2 Cls., 2 Tpts., 8 Vns., Perc.);
Lows (Ob., E. Hn., 2 Bsns., 2 Trbs., Tuba, 4 Vcs., 2 Cbs., Perc.);
Center (2 Hns., 4 Vlas., Perc., Pn.);
Trio (Fl., Vn., Pn.)
Concerto
Piano Concerto, for piano and orchestra (1983) No. 446-41305 (on rental) ca. 20 minutes
2 Fls. (2nd also Picc.), 2 Obs. (2nd also E. Hn.), 2 Cls. (2nd also B. Cl.), 2 Bsns.; 4 Hns., 2 Tpts., 2 Trbs., Tuba; 4 Perc., Hp.; Solo Pn.; Strs.
Opera
Tight-Rope, a chamber opera in nine uninterrupted scenes (1985) No. 417-41028 (on rental) ca. 90 minutes
Text: Henry Butler
4 Sopranos: The Interviewer (Coloratura [B-flat3 — D5]); Sara (Lyric Mezzo [A#3 — A5]); Kathryn (Dramatic Mezzo [G3 — G5]); Luther’s Manager (Mezzo or Dramatic [B-flat3 – E-flat5]);
2 Tenors: The Actor [C#3 — B4]; Critic #1 [D3 — B4];
1 Baritone: Luther Dane [B-flat2 — G4];
1 Bass-Baritone: Willie [A2 – G#4];
1 Bass: Critic #2 [A2 – F#4]
Fl. (also Picc.), E. Hn., Cl. (also B. Cl.), Bsn.; Sop. Sax. (also Ten. Sax.); 2 Hns., Tpt., Trb.; 3 Perc.; Hp.; Pn.; Strs. (at least 33322; reduced version 11111)
Solo Piano
Incitation to Desire (Tango), for piano (1984) Edition Peters No. P67596b ca. 4 minutes (originally published by Quadrivium Music Press as part of the International Tango Collection)
Piano Sonata (1986; revised 1987) Edition Peters No. P67200 ca. 10 minutes
Companion Piece (for Morton Feldman), for piano (1989/1991) Edition Peters No. P67493b ca. 7 minutes Feldman: Homages; and Encounters with Feldman
In Time’s Unfolding, for piano (2000) Edition Peters No. P68021 ca. 7 minutes
Guitar
Resisting Stillness, for two guitars (1996) Edition Peters No. P67693 ca. 4 minutes
Chamber
they had ceased to talk, for violin and viola, horn in F and piano (1975) Edition Peters No. P67102 ca. 11 minutes
Di Vivere, for clarinet in A and piano with flute, violin and violoncello (1981) Score: Edition Peters No. P66995; Set of Parts: Editions Peters No. P66995a ca. 8 minutes
Di Vivere, for clarinet in A and piano (1981) Edition Peters No. P66995 ca. 8 minutes
Incitation to Desire (Tango), for clarinet, horn (or viola), violin, violoncello, percussion and piano (1984/1993) Score: Edition Peters No. P67596a; Set of Parts: Edition Peters No. P67596aa ca. 4 minutes
Companion Piece (for Morton Feldman), for contrabass and piano (1989) Edition Peters No. P67493a ca. 7 minutes Feldman: Homages; and Encounters with Feldman
Companion Piece (for Morton Feldman), for viola and piano (1989/2016) Edition Peters No. P67493c ca. 7 minutes Feldman: Homages; and Encounters with Feldman
Vocal
The Gift of Life, for soprano and piano (1990-1993) [B3 — A5] Edition Peters No. P67595 ca. 10 minutes
Text: Emily Dickinson, Denise Levertov and Thornton Wilder
Percussion
Trasumanar, for twelve percussionists and piano (1980) Edition Peters No. P67492 ca. 15 minutes
Incitation to Desire (Tango), for marimba (1984/2006) Range: E1 — c4 Score: Edition Peters No. P67596c ca. 3 minutes
Those works indicated by † are distributed exclusively by Theodore Front Musical Literature, Inc. [Note: those works with asterisks were formerly available as part of the American Composers Edition from the American Composers Alliance, Inc.]:
Solo Guitar
†Finding Beauty in Small Places, for solo guitar (2021) No. B48-21-1 ca. 6 minutes
Solo Piano
†Finding Beauty in Small Places, for piano (2023) No. B48-23-1 ca. 7 minutes
†Nel giardinetto della villa, for piano four hands (1994) No. B48-94-2 ca. 10 minutes
Piece (Peace!) for Peggy, for piano (2015) No. B48-15-2 ca. 1 minute
Tower Music, for piano (2022) No. B48-22-1 ca. 4 minutes
Solo Saxophone
†No Feeling is the Same as Before, for soprano saxophone in B-flat (1988) No. B48-88-1 ca. 8 minutes
Chamber
*Turning, for violin, soprano and string trio (1973) [B3 — C6] No. B48-73-1 ca. 6 minutes
Text by the composer
*Chartres, for solo piano and chamber ensemble (1973) No. B48-73-2 ca. 11 minutes
Ob., Cl. (also B. Cl.), Sop. Sax.; 2 Perc.; Solo Pn.; Vn., Vc.
*orpha, for string quartet, marimba and vibraphone (1974) No. B48-74-2 ca. 7 minutes
*Netori, for violin, oboe, horn; horn, clarinet, violoncello; piano (1990) No. B48-90-1 ca. 6 minutes
†Chamber Fanfare, for flute, horn, violin, violoncello, percussion and piano (1999); No. B48-99-2 1 minute
†Piano Quintet, for piano and violin, with violin, viola and violoncello (2004) No. B48-04-1 ca. 14 minutes
†The Viola Had Suddenly Become a Voice, for viola and piano (2005) No. B48-05-1 ca. 4 ½ minutes
†Footfalls (after Beckett), for flute, oboe, two guitars, tingsha, violin and violoncello (2012) No. B48-12-1 ca. 8 minutes
†Footfalls (after Beckett), for flute, oboe, piano, violin and violoncello (2012) No. B48-12-2 ca. 8 minutes
†Photo | Pier | Moonlight, for violin duo (2015; rev. 2016) No. B48-15-3 ca. 5 minutes
†Suddenly Cello, for violoncello and piano (2005/2020) No. B48-20-1 ca. 5 minutes
Brass
†*Music for an Occasion, for brass, piano and percussion (1992; rev. 2003) No. B48-92-1 ca. 3 minutes
4 Hns., 3 Tpts., 3 Trbs., Tuba; Pn.; 3 Perc.
Percussion
†*Music for Witch Dance, for two percussionists (1983) No. B48-83-1 ca. 6 minutes
Music for the dance by Annabelle Gamson (1983) based on Mary Wigman’s Heksedans (1926)
Concerto
†Recognition, for piano and violin with string orchestra (2004/2007) No. B48-07-2 ca. 15 minutes
Vocal
*”Trusting Lightness,” for soprano and piano (1975) [B3 —A5] No. B48-75-1 ca. 6 minutes
Text: Jess Anderson, from Requiescat in Pace (Poems 1970-1974)
“Chez Vous,” for soprano and piano (1983; rev. 2007) (Second Edition Revised, 2017) [C4 — G5] No. B48-83-2 ca. 3 minutes
Written for Composers Recordings, Inc. Gala Benefit 1983
Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick
†Sailors & Dreamers, for voice and piano, or for voice and chamber ensemble (2007-2010) [A3 – D#5] ca. 27 minutes
Lyrics: Shirley Kaplan
Version for voice and piano: No. B48-10-4;
Version for voice and chamber ensemble: No. B48-11-1
Fl. (Picc.), Cl (B. Cl.), Perc. [Chimes (C4 – G5), Mar. (C3 – C7), Glock., Sus. Cyms. (Sm., Med. & Lg.), Vib.], Voice, Pn, Vln I, Vln II, Vla, Vc, Cb
“You’ve Been On My Mind” (2007) [A3 – C#5] No. B48-07-1 ca. 2 minutes;
“Play Me a Song” (2008) [B3 – C5] No. B48-08-2 ca. 3 minutes;
“Seven O’Clock at the Cedar (Ode to Kline/de Kooning)” (2008) [B3 – D5] No. B48-08-1 ca. 4 minutes;
“Do you remember?” (2010) [D#4 – D5] B48-10-2 ca. 1 minute;
“I Dance the Tango” (2010) [C4 – D#5] No. B48-10-1 ca. 2 ½ minutes;
“Falling Fast” (2010) [C#4 – D#5] B48-10-3 ca. 5 minutes;
“It’s Time to Feel Alright Now” (2009) [C#4 – C#5] No. B48-09-1 ca. 5 ½ minutes
†“Broken Stars That Go Dark,” for voice and piano (2016) [B3 – B4] No. B48-16-1 ca. 2 minutes
Lyrics: Shirley Kaplan
“Two Kinds of Love Songs,” for voice and piano (2018) [B3 – B4] No. B48-18-1 ca. 2½ minutes
Lyrics: David Lehman
Choral
*Indovinello, for twelve voices (SSSAAATTTBBB) (1974) SATB No. B48-74-1 ca. 5 minutes
Text: Indovinello Veronese (Late Eighth Century Italian)
Translation: Chester Biscardi
*Heabakes: Five Sapphic Lyrics, for mixed chorus, two solo sopranos, solo alto and percussion (1974) No. B48-74-3 ca. 5 minutes
Transliterations from the Ancient Greek by Paul C. Ortloff
*Eurydice, for women’s chorus and seventeen instruments (1978)
No. B48-78-1 ca. 12 minutes
Text: Eurydice, by H. D.
Sopranos in two parts, each including two soloists;
Altos in two parts, each including two soloists
2 Fls. (also Piccs.), Alto Fl., Cl.; 2 Hns., 2 Trbs.; 4 Vns., 4 Vcs.; Pn.
*Good-bye, My Fancy!, for mixed chorus a cappella and narrator (1982) No. B48-82-1 ca. 8 minutes
Text created by Mark D’Alessio from Leaves of Grass, by Walt Whitman
Mama Never Forgets Her Birds, arranged for SATB and piano (1997), from The Gift of Life, for soprano and piano (1990-1993) ca. 1 ½ minutes
Text: Emily Dickinson, Denise Levertov and Thornton Wilder
(Copyright held by C. F. Peters Corp.)
Stage & Media
*Music for The Duchess of Malfi, for nine instrumentalists and voices (1975) No. B48-75-2 ca. 40 minutes
Music for the play by John Webster (1612)
Fl., Cl.; Tpt., Hn.; Pn.; Perc.; 2 Vns., Vc.; various voices and singers from cast
†*Music for Witch Dance, for two percussionists (1983) No. B48-83-1 ca. 6 minutes
Music for the dance by Annabelle Gamson (1983) based on Mary Wigman’s Heksedans (1926)
Music for NASDAQ MarketSiteTV, for flute, horn, violin, violoncello, percussion and
piano (1999) No. B48-99-2 ca. 2 minutes
Fl, Hn, Vn, Vc, Perc [Timp, Vib, Glock], Pn
†Footfalls (after Beckett), for flute, oboe, two guitars, tingsha, violin and violoncello
(2012) No. B48-12-1 ca. 8 minutes
†Footfalls (after Beckett), for flute, oboe, piano, violin and violoncello (2012) No. B48-12-2 ca. 8 minutes
and are also available from Theodore Front Musical Literature, Inc.:
Vocal
“Baby Song of the Four Winds,” for mezzo-soprano and piano (1994) [(G#3 – optional low) A3 — F5] No. B48-94-1a No. CVR3613 ca. 3 minutes
Text: Carl Sandburg
“Baby Song of the Four Winds,” transposed for soprano and piano (1994) [C4 — A5] No. B48-94-1b No. CVR3614 ca. 3 minutes
Text: Carl Sandburg
“Chez Vous,” for voice and piano (1983; revised 2007) (Second Edition Revised, 2017) [C4 — G5] No. B48-83/07-3 No. CVR4100 ca. 3 minutes
Lyrics: Sheldon Harnick
“The Child Comes Every Winter,” for voice and piano (1999; Second Edition Revised, 2017) [C#4 – C#5] No. B48-99-1 No. CVR3615 ca. 3 minutes
Lyrics: William Zinsser
“Guru,” for voice(s) and piano (1995) [D4 — D5] No. B48-95-1 No. CVR3640 ca. 1 minute
Text: Allen Ginsberg
Modern Love Songs, for voice and piano (1997-2002) ca. 15 minutes Versions for medium voice (original), 2nd ed. rev. [A3 — E5] – No. B48-97/02-1a No. CVR3617 – and high voice (transposed keys) [C4 – G#5 (A-flat5)] – No. B48-97/02-1b No. CVR3618
Lyrics: William Zinsser:
“I Wouldn’t Know About That,” for voice and piano (1997) [A3 — E5] [C4 — G5] No. B48-97-2 ca. 3 minutes;
“Someone New,” for voice and piano (1999) [A#3 — E5] [D4 – A-flat5] No. B48-99-2 ca. 3 minutes;
“Now You See It, Now You Don’t,” for voice and piano (1998) [B3 — D5] [D#4 — F#5] No. B48-98-2 ca. 3 minutes;
“At Any Given Moment,” for voice and piano (2002) [C#4 — E5] [F4 – A-flat5] No. B48-02-1 ca. 3 minutes
“Poet’s Aria,” for baritone and piano (1985), from Scene I of Tight-Rope, a 90-minute chamber opera in nine uninterrupted scenes (1985), on rental from Merion Music, Inc./Theodore Presser Co. [Bb2 — G4] BMP/CVR No. B48-85-1a / CVR3619 ca. 3 minutes
Text: Henry Butler
“Poet’s Aria,” transposed for tenor and piano (1985), from Scene I of Tight-Rope, a 90-minute chamber opera in nine uninterrupted scenes (1985), on rental from Merion Music, Inc./Theodore Presser Co. [C#3 — B-flat4] BMP/CVR No. B48-85-1b / CVR3620 ca. 3 minutes
Text: Henry Butler
“Prayers of Steel,” for baritone and piano (1998) [B2 — F#4] No. B48-98-1 No. CVR3621 ca. 3 minutes
Text: Carl Sandburg
“Recovering,” for tenor and piano (2000) [D3 – G#4] No. B48-00-2 No. CVR3622 ca. 6 minutes
Text: Muriel Rukeyser
Versions for soprano [D4 — G#5] and mezzo-soprano [C-flat4 (B4) — F5] are also available from the composer.
Choral
The Child Comes Every Winter, for SATB and piano (1999/2001) No. B48-99/01-1 No. CVR3616 ca. 3 minutes
Lyrics: William Zinsser
Guru, for voice(s) and piano (1995) [d1 – d2] No. B48-95-1 No. CVR3640 ca. 1 minute
Text: Allen Ginsberg
NewMusicShelf Anthology of New Music: Viola, Vol. 1, NewMusicShelf, Inc., Astoria, New York, 2021
Chester Biscardi: Selected Songs, Biscardi Music Press B48-18-1, ISBN 978-0-692-04665-4, New York, New York, 2018
NewMusicShelf Anthology of New Music: Tenor, Vol. 1, NewMusicShelf, Inc., Astoria, New York, 2018
Modern Music for New Singers: 21st Century American Art Songs: Baritone, Vol. II, North Star Music, LLC, Saline, Michigan, 2021