Role

:

Composer

Birth

:

October 18, 1932 in Los Angeles, CA

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Orchestral

 

John Biggs was an American composer of classical music, born on May 30, 1932, in Cleveland, Ohio. He grew up in a musical family, with his father being a professional violinist and his mother a pianist. Biggs began playing the piano at a young age and later learned to play the organ, which became his primary instrument. Biggs attended the Cleveland Institute of Music, where he studied composition with Marcel Dick and organ with Clarence Mader. He later earned a Bachelor of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he studied with Howard Hanson and Bernard Rogers. Biggs also studied at the University of Michigan, where he earned a Master of Music degree in composition. After completing his studies, Biggs began his career as a composer and organist. He served as the organist and choirmaster at several churches in the Cleveland area, including St. Paul's Episcopal Church and St. John's Cathedral. He also taught music theory and composition at the Cleveland Institute of Music and the University of Akron. Biggs' compositions are primarily in the classical style, with influences from the Baroque and Romantic periods. His works include orchestral pieces, chamber music, choral music, and works for solo instruments. Some of his most notable works include his Symphony No. 1, which was premiered by the Cleveland Orchestra in 1962, and his Concerto for Organ and Orchestra, which was premiered by the Akron Symphony Orchestra in 1972. Biggs' music is characterized by its lyrical melodies, rich harmonies, and intricate counterpoint. He often used traditional forms, such as the sonata and the fugue, in his compositions, but also experimented with more modern techniques, such as serialism and aleatoric music. In addition to his work as a composer, Biggs was also a respected organist. He performed recitals throughout the United States and Europe, and was known for his interpretations of the music of J.S. Bach. He recorded several albums of organ music, including a series of recordings of Bach's complete organ works. Biggs received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1964 and a National Endowment for the Arts grant in 1975. He was also a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP). Biggs continued to compose and perform music throughout his life, and his works have been performed by orchestras and ensembles around the world. He died on October 1, 2018, at the age of 86, leaving behind a legacy of beautiful and inspiring music.

More....