Finding Aid for the John Biggs papers, 1967-2012 PASC-M.0194

Finding aid prepared by UCLA Performing Arts Special Collections staff; reprocessed by Kelly Kress, 2016; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé.
UCLA Library Special Collections
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1575
(310) 825-4988
spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
Finding aid last updated 30 August 2017.


Title: John Biggs papers
Identifier/Call Number: PASC-M.0194
Contributing Institution: UCLA Library Special Collections
Language of Material: English
Physical Description: 4.4 linear feet (7 boxes)
Date (inclusive): 1967-2012
Abstract: Compositions by John Biggs, including printed and manuscript scores and commercial recordings.
Language of Materials: Materials are in English.
Physical Location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Creator: Biggs, John, 1932-

Restrictions on Access

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.

Restrictions on Use and Reproduction

Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], John Biggs papers (PASC-M 194). UCLA Library Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA.

UCLA Catalog Record ID

UCLA Catalog Record ID: 4432664 

Provenance/Source of Acquisition

John Biggs; gift; 2001.

Biography

John Biggs was born in Los Angeles on October 18, 1932. He received his master's degree in composition from the University of California, Los Angeles, and also studied at the University of Southern California and the Royal Flemish Conservatory in Antwerp, Belgium. His teachers included Roy Harris, Lukas Foss, Ingolf Dahl, Flor Peeters, Halsey Stevens, and Leonard Stein. Biggs taught at Los Angeles City College, UCLA, UC Berkeley, and served as composer-in-residence to six colleges in Kansas. He founded the John Biggs Consort, which toured internationally under Columbia Artists Management, specializing in medieval, renaissance, and 20th century music. Awards for his compositions include a Rockefeller Grant, Fulbright Grant, Atwater-Kent Award, ASCAP Serious Music Awards, and Meet the Composer grants. Biggs' works have been performed by the Ventura County Master Chorale, the Ventura County Symphony, and the Santa Barbara Chamber Orchestra, among other groups.

Scope and Content

Musical compositions by John Biggs, including orchestral music, chamber music, choral music, and the operas Hobson's Choice and Ernest Worthing. Primarily full printed scores, many with parts, as well as several manuscript scores. Also included are seven CDs of Biggs' music.

Organization and Arrangement

The collection is organized into the following series:
  • Series 1. Compositions
  • Series 2. Commercial Recordings

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audiovisual materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization for safe access. To review these audiovisual materials, you must notify the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk in advance of your visit.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Biggs, John, 1932- --Archives.
Composers--Archives.

 

Series 1: Compositions 1967-2012

Scope and Content

Compositions for orchestral music, chamber music, chorale music, and the two operas Hobson's Choice and Ernest Worthing. Handwritten lyrics and DVDs are included for both operas. Primarily printed scores, some with parts, as well as several manuscript scores and a few in pdf form. Full scores unless otherwise noted.

Organization and Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audiovisual materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization for safe access. To review these audiovisual materials, you must notify the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk in advance of your visit.
Box 4, Folder 1

American Folk Songs (incl. pdf on CD-R) 1967

Box 3, Folder 1

Bethlehem Down - manuscript score undated

Box 4, Folder 2

Birds 1967

Box 4, Folder 3

Black Waltz of a Gossiping Diva 2001

Box 3, Folder 2

Black Waltz of a Gossiping Diva - manuscript score 2001

Box 4, Folder 4

Cantata Rustica - full score with CD 1991

Box 4, Folder 5

Cantata Rustica - choral score and parts 1991

Box 4, Folder 5

Canto Sobre La Muerte de Silvestre 1991

Box 1, Folder 1

Canto Sobre La Muerte de Silvestre - manuscript score 1991

Box 3, Folder 3

Cello Concerto - manuscript score 1988

Box 4, Folder 6

A Christmas Canticle 1971

Box 4, Folder 7

Concert Suite - full score and parts 1986

Box 2, Folder 1

Concerto for Cello and Chamber Orchestra 1996

Box 2, Folder 2

Concerto for Oboe and String Orchestra 1978

Box 1, Folder 2

Concerto for Orchestra - manuscript score 1988

Box 3, Folder 4

Concerto for Orchestra 1988

Box 4, Folder 8

Concerto for Viola, Woodwinds and Percussion - full score and parts 1978

Box 1, Folder 3

Concerto for Violin and Chamber Orchestra - manuscript score 1987

Box 2, Folder 3

Concerto for Violin and Classical Orchestra 1988

Box 4, Folder 9

Cowboy Miniatures 2008

Box 1, Folder 6

Cowboy Miniatures - manuscript score 2007

Box 3, Folder 5

Dance Suite - manuscript score 1999

Box 4, Folder 10

Dialog for Violin and Piano 1978

Box 4, Folder 11

Double Reed Concerto (incl. pdf on CD-R) 2011

Box 4, Folder 12

Eccentricities 1986

Box 4, Folder 13

Ernest Worthing: A Musical Play in Three Acts (incl. music and DVD) 1997

Box 4, Folder 14

Fantasy on a Theme of Rameau 1996

Box 4, Folder 15

A Garland of Southern Song 1990

Box 2, Folder 4

Hobson's Choice - full score 2000

Box 5, Folder 1

Hobson's Choice - vocal score (incl. CDs, DVD) 2000

Box 5, Folder 2

Hobson's Choice - parts 2000

Box 5, Folder 3

Hobson's Choice - parts and libretto 2000

Box 5, Folder 4

Hobson's Choice - lyrics (also incl. lyrics for Ernest Worthing) 2000

Box 3, Folder 6

Hobson's Choice - manuscript score 2000

Box 1, Folder 6

March of the Krumhorns - manuscript score 2006

Box 5, Folder 5

Mass for Our Time - full score and parts 2003

Box 5, Folder 6

Medieval Dance Suite 1993

Box 5, Folder 7

Meditations and Digressions 2005

Box 1, Folder 6

Meditations and Digressions - manuscript score 2005

Box 3, Folder 7

Pater Noster - manuscript score 1997

Box 5, Folder 8

Paul Revere's Ride 1975

Box 5, Folder 9

Please Don't Rain on My Tuba 2003

Box 1, Folder 6

Please Don't Rain on My Tuba - manuscript score 2003

Box 5, Folder 10

A Renaissance Bouquet 1994

Box 5, Folder 11

Soft Shoe 2003

Box 5, Folder 12

Soliloquy from Planet Earth (inc. CD-R accompaniment) 1979

Box 6, Folder 1

A Song, a Prayer, a Voyage 2006

Box 1, Folder 6

A Song, a Prayer, a Voyage - manuscript score 2006

Box 6, Folder 2

Songs for Baritone and Cello 1997

Box 1, Folder 4

Songs of Laughter, Love of Tears - manuscript score 1985

Box 6, Folder 3

State of Mind 2002

Box 6, Folder 4

Summer's End 2012

Box 6, Folder 5

Symphony No. 1 - parts 1978

Box 6, Folder 6

Symphony No. 1 - parts 1978

Box 1, Folder 5

Symphony II - manuscript score undated

Box 1, Folder 6

This Tiny King - manuscript score undated

Box 6, Folder 7

Three Preludes 1992

Box 6, Folder 8

Three Sonatinas 1978

Box 6, Folder 9

Three Songs From Catullus 1978

Box 2, Folder 5

Triple Concerto 1978

Box 6, Folder 10

Two Chorales on Poems of Oscar Wilde 1978

Box 2, Folder 6

Variations on a Theme of Shostakovich 1978

Box 6, Folder 11

With Rue My Heart is Laden 1978

Box 6, Folder 12

Web of Life - full score 1994

Box 6, Folder 13

Web of Life - parts 1994

Box 6, Folder 14

Web of Life - chorale score/youth score 1994

 

Series 2: Commerical recordings 1991-2004

Scope and Content

Commercial CDs of Biggs' works, recorded by a variety of orchestras and vocalists.

Organization and Arrangement

Arranged alphabetically.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

COLLECTION CONTAINS AUDIOVISUAL MATERIALS: Audiovisual materials in this collection will require assessment and possible digitization for safe access. To review these audiovisual materials, you must notify the UCLA Library Special Collections Reference Desk in advance of your visit.
Box 6, Folder 15

Chamber Music of John Biggs - Barkezian Ensemble 1999

Box 6, Folder 16

John Biggs - A Choral Bouquet 2001

Box 7, Folder 1

John Biggs - A Vocal Bouquet 2001

Box 7, Folder 2

Music of John Biggs - Czech National Symphony 2004

Box 7, Folder 3

The Music of John Biggs - Moravska Filharmonie Olomouc 1997

Box 7, Folder 4

Paul Freeman Introduces John Biggs 2000

Box 7, Folder 5

Music From Six Continents: Biggs, Dembski, Jazwinski, Wolfe - Polish Radio and TV Symphony Orchestra of Krakow 1991