A Modern Storyteller: Selected Songs For Soprano By Jake Heggie From The Perspective Of Literature And Style

Abstract

Having established his reputation as a modern American opera composer, Jake Heggie has made an impact in the realm of vocal music. Currently he is composing his eighth opera, two of which have been critically acclaimed. This acclaim has afforded him numerous commissions for song cycles from famous singers whose recordings have had far-reaching effects upon the classically trained voice community. He is booked five years in advance to compose these song cycles. In between and during the writing of his larger works, he continually returns to his first love of composing art songs. IN fact, the largest portion of his compositional output s art songs. He has written over 250 art songs, and the majority of them are grouped into song cycles.