Compositions
A 25-minute song cycle for baritone and piano, also for baritone and orchestra. New poetry by Margaret Atwood. Commissioned for baritone Joshua Hopkins by the Houston Grand Opera and Canada’s National Arts Centre. First Performance: Sept 10, 2020 at the Rothko Chapel in Houston TX, featuring baritone Joshua Hopkins and pianist Jake Heggie. Orchestral Premiere, [more]
A 40-minute song cycle for mezzo-soprano, solo violin, string quartet and youth solo violin. Texts by Gene Scheer based on stories about violins played by Jews in concentration camps during the Holocaust; inspired by James Grymes’ book Violins of Hope: Violins of the Holocaust – Instruments of Hope and Liberation in Mankind’s Darkest Hour (Harper [more]
Full Circle 50 is a trio in four movements for flute, cello and piano commissioned to celebrate flutist Carol Wincenc’s Golden Anniversary year of performing. Generously underwritten by Elizabeth King, the work received its premiere on Nov 12, 2019 at the Morgan Library in New York City with flutist Carol Wincenc, cellist Brook Speltz and [more]
“…bright and superbly evocative music … with arching melodies that settle into shimmeringly sunny harmonies.”“…a work of inventiveness and expressive urgency… richly textured with a lush overlay atop brisk, tautly structured rhythms.”San Francisco Chronicle (Joshua Kosman) “…a breakneck pace of dramatic intrigue and aural pleasure …a libretto of wickedness, wit and wisdom”“Jake Heggie & Gene [more]
Meditation: The Slow Seconds (2018); set for two violins and piano. A three-minute work inspired by the poetry of Laura Morefield and the astonishing stained glass window at Noe Valley Ministry in San Francisco. Composed in celebration of Noe Valley Chamber Music’s 25th Anniversary Season and in honor of Karen Heather, founder and artistic director. [more]
Sheet Music, Scores, Parts and Performance Materials are available from billholabmusic.com.
Trois Chansons de Bilitis by Claude Debussy (1897); arranged by Jake Heggie for string quartet (2017) and for flute, harp and string quartet (2020). Debussy’s three iconic songs on the poetry of Pierre Louÿs arranged for Joyce DiDonato for recitals at Wigmore Hall (December 2017) and Carnegie Hall (April 2020). 1) La flûte de Pan [more]
One or more recordings have been made. Sheet Music, Scores, Parts and Performance Materials are available from billholabmusic.com.
Inspired by the iconic photograph taken by astronaut William (“Bill”) Anders during the Apollo 8 mission on Christmas Eve 1968. Commissioned in his honor by the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival and generously underwritten by the Valerie & William Anders Foundation. Composed for Anita Orne and the Miró Quartet. (Duration approx. 7 minutes) First performance: [more]
A cycle of four songs for Soprano & Piano on texts by Emily Dickinson, Frederick Douglass, Martin Niemöller and Walt Whitman. (Duration approx. 10 minutes) Commissioned by the Music Academy of the West with the generous support of Dody and Eric Small. Composed for soprano Hannah Kidwell and pianist Christina Giuca, winners of the 2017 [more]
A 23-minute suite based on music from the 2010 opera by Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer, arranged by Cristian Macelaru and commissioned by the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music. First performance: August 12, 2017, Santa Cruz, CA as part of the Cabrillo Festival. Conducted by Cristian Macelaru. Instrumentation: 3 flutes (3rd doubles piccolo), 3 oboes [more]
“It’s A Wonderful Life Soars“ Houston Chronicle “Stunningly new” Houston Arts+Culture “Heggie’s most delightful concoction” TheaterJones PUBLISHING & RIGHTS Bill Holab Music is agent for the sales and rentals of the score to Its A Wonderful Life. Published by Bent Pen Music, Inc. (BMI) For information on Grand Rights: Don Erik Franzen, Inc. dfranzen@lawff.com. [more]