Chester Biscardi (b. Kenosha, Wisconsin, October 19, 1948; nicknamed Chet) is an Italian American composer and educator.

He received a B.A. degree in English literature from the University of Wisconsin–Madison (1970); he studied during 1969–1970 at the University of Bologna and the Conservatorio di Musica "G. B. Martini"; he received an M.A. in Italian literature from the University of Wisconsin–Madison (1972); he received an M.M. in composition from the University of Wisconsin–Madison (1974); he received a M.M.A. in composition from Yale University (1976); and he received a D.M.A. in composition from Yale University (1980).

His composition instructors have included Les Thimmig, Mario Davidovsky, Robert Morris, Yehudi Wyner, Krzysztof Penderecki and Tōru Takemitsu.

He has been a member of the faculty of Sarah Lawrence College since 1977. He is openly gay.[1]

Biscardi's music has been released on the Albany, American Modern Recordings, Bridge, CRI (New World Records), Furious Artisans, Intim Musik (Sweden), Naxos, New Albion, New Ariel, North/South Recordings, Perfect Enemy Records, and Sept Jardins (Canada) labels.

Selected works

Works by Biscardi are published by Merion Music, C.F. Peters and Biscardi Music Press.
Stage
  • Tight-Rope, Chamber Opera in 9 uninterrupted scenes (1985); libretto by Henry Butler
  • The Duchess of Malfi, Music for the play by John Webster for 9 instrumentalists and voices (1976)
Orchestral
  • At the Still Point (1977)
Concertante
  • Chartres for solo piano and chamber ensemble (1973)
  • Piano Concerto for piano and orchestra (1983)
  • Recognition for piano and violin with string orchestra (2004, 2007)
Chamber music
  • Tartini for violin and piano (1972)
  • orpha for string quartet, marimba and vibraphone (1974)
  • Tenzone for 2 flutes and piano (1975)
  • they had ceased to talk for violin, viola, horn and piano (1975)
  • Trio for violin, cello and piano (1976)
  • Trasumanar for 12 percussionists and piano (1980)
  • Di Vivere for clarinet and piano (1981), or for clarinet and piano, with flute, violin and cello (1981)
  • Music for Witch Dance for 2 percussionists (1983)
  • Incitation to Desire (Tango) for clarinet, horn, violin, cello, percussion and piano (1984, 1993); original for piano solo
  • Incitation to Desire (Tango) for marimba solo (1984, 2006); original for piano solo
  • Traverso for flute and piano (1987)
  • No Feeling Is the Same As Before for soprano saxophone solo (1988)
  • Companion Piece (for Morton Feldman) for double bass and piano (1989)
  • Netori (音取り) for violin, oboe, horn; horn, clarinet, cello; and piano (1990)
  • Music for an Occasion for 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, piano and percussion (1992; revised 2003)
  • Resisting Stillness for 2 guitars (1996)
  • Chamber Fanfare for flute, violin, cello, percussion and piano (1999)
  • Music for NASDAQ MarketSiteTV for flute, horn, violin, cello, percussion and piano (1999)
  • Piano Quintet' for piano and violin, with violin, viola and cello (2004)
  • The Viola Had Suddenly Become a Voice for viola and piano (2005)
  • Footfalls (after Beckett) for flute, oboe, two guitars, tingsha, violin and violoncello (2012)
  • Footfalls (after Beckett) for flute, oboe, piano, violin and violoncello (2012); original for flute, oboe, two guitars, tingsha, violin and violoncello
  • Photo | Pier | Moonlight for violin duo (2015; rev. 2016)
  • Suddenly Cello for violoncello and piano (2005/2020)
Piano
  • Nel giardinetto della villa for piano 4 hands (1994)
  • Companion Piece (for Morton Feldman) (1989, 1991)
  • Incitation to Desire (Tango) (1984)
  • In Time's Unfolding (2000)
  • Piano Sonata (1986; revised 1987)
  • Mestiere (1979)
Vocal
  • Turning for violin, soprano, and string trio (1973)
  • Trusting Lightness for soprano and piano (1975)
  • Chez Vous for voice and piano (1983; revised 2007)
  • "Poet's Aria" from Tight-Rope for baritone (or tenor) and piano (1985)
  • The Gift of Life for soprano and piano (1990–1993)
  • Baby Song of the Four Winds for mezzo-soprano (or soprano) and piano (1994)
  • Guru for voice (or voices) and piano (1995)
  • Prayers of Steel for baritone and piano (1998)
  • The Child Comes Every Winter for voice and piano (1999)
  • Recovering for voice and piano (2000)
  • Modern Love Songs for voice and piano (1997–2002)
What a Coincidence
I Wouldn't Know about That
Someone New
Now You See It, Now You Don't
At Any Given Moment
  • Sailors & Dreamers for voice and chamber ensemble / voice and piano (2007-2010)
You've Been on My Mind
Play Me a Song
Seven O'clock at the Cedar (Ode to Kline/de Kooning)
Do You Remember?
I Dance the Tango
Falling Fast
It's Time to Feel Alright Now
  • Broken Stars That Go Dark for voice and piano (2016)
Choral
  • Heabakes: Five Sapphic Lyrics for mixed chorus, 2 solo sopranos, solo alto, and percussion (1974)
  • Indovinello for 12 voices (1974)
  • Eurydice for women's chorus and 17 instruments (1978)
  • Good-Bye, My Fancy! for mixed chorus a cappella and narrator (1982)
  • Mama Never Forgets Her Birds from The Gift of Life for mixed chorus and piano (1997)
  • The Child Comes Every Winter for mixed chorus and piano (1999)

References

  1. ↑ Who Are You? Dialogue, Sarah Lawrence College magazine, Spring 2003, archived from the original on 2007-11-14, retrieved 2007-11-03
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