Biography : Curriculum Vitae : Publications

Please see Works for complete information

All works registered with Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI).

 

The following works are published by Merion Music, Inc./Theodore Presser Co.:

 

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)
 

The following works are published by C. F. Peters Co.:

 

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
 

The following works are published by Biscardi Music Press.
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

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
 

The following works are published by Biscardi Music Press, distributed by Classical Vocal Reprints,
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:

“What a Coincidence,” for voice and piano (1997) [A#3 — D5] [D4 -F#5] No. B48-97-1 ca. 3 minutes;
“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

The following are collections in which works by Chester Biscardi appear:

 
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