ZEKE HECKER: SELECTED WORKS

Scores and parts to orchestral and theater works are available for rental or purchase; all others are for purchase only. To obtain price quotations and perusal scores, see “Contact.”

Can’t find something suitable? Zeke Hecker will write a piece to your own specifications: any length, text, occasion, vocal/instrumental combination, or level of difficulty. Commissions are fulfilled swiftly and at moderate cost.

ORCHESTRA

ICEBREAKER (1987)
A lively celebratory work commissioned for the Greenfield, Massachusetts, Winter Carnival.
2(both picc)222; 2200; timp/perc (2); strings
Duration: 7 minutes

VARIATIONS ON “ELIJAH THE PROPHET” (1988)
Based on the Passover Hymn “Eliahu Hanovi.” A festive work for large orchestra.
3(III-picc.)2(II-EH)22+contrabassoon; 4331, timp/perc(3); strings; optional piano & harp
Duration: 15 minutes

THE BIRTHMARK (1989)
Scene for dancing from the story by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
2(II-picc)2(II-EH)22; 4331; timp/perc (2); strings
Duration: 10 minutes

GUILFORD FESTIVAL OVERTURE (2005)
A lighthearted piece for chamber orchestra.
1121; 2100; strings
Duration: 3 1/2 minutes

SYMPHONY #1 (2005)
For large orchestra. Alternately exuberant and lyrical, in four compact movements.
3 (III-picc) 2+EH 2+bc 2; 4331; timp; perc (3); harp; strings
Duration: 17 minutes

SYMPHONY #2 (2007)
In one movement, with sections ranging from somber to forceful, and a big English horn solo.
2(both picc)2(II-EH)22 4331 timp perc(2) strings
Duration: 18 minutes

SYMPHONY #3 (2008)
In four movements. Vigorous and melodic, with prominent solos for timpani and horn.
2(both picc)2(II-EH)22 4231 timp perc(1) strings
Duration: 21 minutes

PASSING FANCIES (2011)
For clarinet and string orchestra. In three movements. Relaxed and pastoral, but with virtuosic passages for the soloist.
Duration: 11 minutes

SYMPHONY #4 (2011)
In four movements. With featured parts for harp, percussion, and timpani.
2+picc2(II-EH)22 4231 timp perc(2) harp strings
Duration: 21 minutes

SYMPHONY #5 (2015)
In three movements, Passacaglia, Scherzo, and Finale, for large orchestra.
4(IV-picc) 2(II-EH)+EH 3+bc 2+contrabassoon; 4331; timp perc(2) harp strings
Duration: 18 minutes

TWO PORTRAITS FOR OBOE AND ORCHESTRA (2016)
oboe (solo) / 2+picc EH 2 2; 4 3 2+bass tbn 1; timp perc (2); strings
Duration: 8 minutes

VOICE WITH ORCHESTRA

LANDSCAPES (1976)
Six Songs to Poems of Jenny Stewart for Mezzo-soprano and Strings
Evocative, impressionistic settings of these youthful nature poems.
Duration: 15 minutes

SUITE FROM “THE TEMPEST” (1978)
Soprano and Small Orchestra, arranged from the incidental music (see below).
The vocal part comprises several songs and one brief monologue from the play.
Soprano soloist 2(II-picc)1(EH)22 2200 timp perc(1) strings.
Duration: 15 minutes

TWO SCENES FROM “DRACULA” (1984)
Atmospheric excerpts from a projected opera setting Bram Stoker’s text, comprising Harker’s arrival at Dracula’s castle and Mina’s lullaby.
Soprano, Tenor, Baritone, and Strings (9 vn, 3 va, 2vc, 1 cb)
Duration: 20 minutes

MY LAST DUCHESS (1985)
A setting of the dramatic monologue by Robert Browning.
Bass-baritone solo, double brass choir (3432), orchestral bells, strings
Duration: 15 minutes

PROPERTY (2012)
Six songs to a poem by Sandra Adams
Duration: 7 minutes

THREE BALLADS (2014)
Alto voice and small orchestra. Lyrics by the composer
1111 2000 strings
Duration: 8 minutes

FAMILY ALBUM (2017)
Three songs for mezzo-soprano and small orchestra.
Lyrics by Oscar Wilde, Anne Bradstreet, and Zeke Hecker
1111 2000 strings
Duration: 7 minutes

CHORUS

HALLELUJAH (1973)
SATB a cappella

THREE MADRIGALS TO POEMS BY ROBERT HERRICK (1999)
Vocal Quartet or SATB a cappella

ANIMAL LULLABIES (2000)
Five Songs to Poems of Jane Yolen
Commissioned by a youth choir
SSATB a cappella

THE MASQUE OF AMAZONS from “TIMON OF ATHENS” (2005)
Text by William Shakespeare
SSATB a cappella

IN NEED OF MUSIC (2009)
Four Poems of Elizabeth Bishop
SATB and piano

A MORNING STAR: FOUR EPIGRAMS FROM “WALDEN” (2009)
Texts by Henry David Thoreau
SATB and piano

THREE POEMS OF FRANZ KAFKA (2016)
SATB a cappella

WHEN MUSIC SOUNDS (2016)
chorus SATB and chamber orchestra
poem by Walter de la Mare
1111; 2100; triangle; strings
Duration: 7 minutes

INCIDENTAL MUSIC

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (1975)
Play by William Shakespeare
Recorder, oboe, violin, bass clarinet, guitar, percussion

ANTIGONE (1976)
Play by Sophocles
Flute, oboe, trumpet, drums, speaking chorus

THE TEMPEST (1977)
Play by William Shakespeare
Soprano, flute, oboe, bass clarinet, horn, bassoon, violin, percussion
(See suite under “Voice with Orchestra,” above.)

THE UNINVITED PEST (1985)
Music for the animated film by Greg di Chirico
Woodwind Quintet

MACBETH (1986)
Play by William Shakespeare
English horn, horn, viola, contrabass, percussion

DELUSION (2006)
Music for the film by students of the WSESU Career Education Center
String Quartet

CHAMBER AND SOLO INSTRUMENTAL WORKS

PASSACAGLIA, ADAGIO, AND FUGUE on a Theme by Jimi Hendrix for woodwind quintet (1990)

TRIO for Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon (1990)

THE WEATHER FORECAST: Theme and Six Meteorological Variations for Violin and Cello (1990)

3X5: Three Miniatures for Brass Quintet (1991)

THE ELEMENTS for Flute and Harp (1992)

SIX WALTZES for Piano (1992)

THREE WALTZES for Woodwind Quintet (1992)

STRING QUARTET in D (1997, rev. 2010)

SONATA for Viola and Piano (2002)

QUOTIDIAN: Suite for Woodwind Quintet (2002)

SONATA for Flute and Piano (2004)

PARTITA for Organ (2004)

PARTITA for Brass Quintet (2005)

TRIO for Flute, Clarinet, and Bassoon (2006)

VIGNETTE for Alto Flute and Piano (2006)

FOUR PIECES for Oboe, English horn, and Bassoon (2006)

DUO for Clarinet and Piano (2006)

FARM SKETCHBOOK for flute, oboe, clarinet, violin, viola, and cello (2007)

SONATA for Cello and Piano (2007)

TRIO for Trumpet, Horn, and Trombone (2008)

WOODWIND QUINTET (2009)

SONATA for Oboe and Piano (2009)

DIVERTIMENTO for Bassoon, Violin, Viola, and Cello (2012)

SEXTET for Piano and Wind Quintet (2012)

SONATA for Four Horns (2012)

FIVE SKETCHES for Violin, Viola, and Cello (2013)

QUARTET for Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon (2013)

STRING QUARTET #2 in C minor (2013)

SUITE for Flute and Trumpet (2014)

FOUR PORTRAITS for Cello and Piano (2015)

FOUR INTERLUDES for Violin, Cello, and Piano (2015)

TRIO for Flute, Oboe, and Piano (2015)

THREE WOMEN for Woodwind Quintet (2016)

ALBORADA URBANA for Oboe and Piano (2016)

VARIATIONS ON A HYMN TUNE for Woodwind Quintet (2017)

DANCES AND PANTOMIMES for Flute and Piano (2017)

FANTASY ON A HYMN TUNE for Flute and Organ (2017)

WINTER WINDS FOR Flute, Oboe, and Clarinet (2018)

SUITE from “THE FOREST” for Woodwind Quintet (2018)

TRIPTYCH for Horn, Violin, Viola, and Cello (2018)

TWO LULLABIES for Brass Quintet (2018)

SONG CYCLES (Voice and Piano)

FIVE SONGS from “A Bad Child’s Book of Beasts” (Belloc) (1973)

THREE YEATS SONGS (1973, revised 2006)

WHAT MUST: Three Songs (MacLeish) (1976)

SONGS OF ANTIGONE: Nine dramatic monologues based on the play by Sophocles to poems by Betsy Snow Hickok (1982)

CROSSCUT: Four Songs to poems by Alicia Hokanson (1986)

A CYCLE FOR CYNICS: 13 songs for baritone and piano to poems by Ambrose Bierce (1990)

EXCEPT THE MOON: Five Songs to poems by Meg O’Connell (1991)

ROUGH EDEN: Three erotic lyrics to poems by Amy Thomas (1993)

SNOW STORM: Four Songs for Tenor, Horn, and Piano (Emerson) (2006)

AT WREN HOUSE: Five Songs to Poems of Alicia Hokanson for soprano and piano (2008)

THAT SAME LIGHT: Twelve Songs to Poems of Charles Simic (2009-10)

PROPERTY: Six songs for soprano and piano to a poem by Sandra Adams (2011)

UNITED: Scene for Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, and Piano (2013)
Text by Zeke Hecker

THREE SONGS to poems by Wallace Stevens (2014)

REMEMBRANCE: Five Songs to poems by Vladimir Nabokov for baritone and piano (2015)

TWO VOICES IN A MEADOW for baritone and two English horns (Richard Wilbur) (2015)

TRES CANCIONES for baritone voice and piano to poems by Jorge Luis Borges (in Spanish) (2016)

WHEN I CONSIDER: Four Sonnets for soprano and piano to poems by Sandra Gilbert, Paula Meehan, Gwen Harwood, and Phyllis McGinley (2017)

Other cycles and individual songs to poems by cummings, Donne, Frost, Auden, Berryman, Updike, Tzu Yeh, Heine, Hecker, and others.

OPERA AND BALLET

THE CHASER (1974, revised 2012)
Chamber opera in one scene for tenor, baritone,
flute, clarinet, bassoon, violin, viola and cello.
A dark comedy with a subtle finish.
Duration: 15 minutes

MUSHROOMS (1978)
Chamber opera in three scenes for soprano, baritone, and woodwind quintet.
A comic opera with a rural setting and a “twist” ending.
Duration: 40 minutes

PERICLES, PRINCE OF TYRE (1980)
Opera in three acts from the play by William Shakespeare.
A colorful setting of this Shakespearean romance,
using exclusively the original text and incorporating a ballet of “Diana and Actaeon.”
Two sopranos, two altos, two tenors, two baritones, two basses, dancers
1(picc)1(EH)11 1100 perc (1) strings (2111)
Duration: 2 hours, 17 minutes

KAFKA QUINTET (1994)
Chamber opera in five parts on stories and sketches by Franz Kafka.
A minimal “black box” production combining narration and action.
Tenor, baritone, and brass quintet (2111)
Duration: 40 minutes

THE FOREST (2003)
Opera for children based on the story “The Wren and the Bear” by the Brothers Grimm.
A witty version of the fairy tale which reconciles the conflict between the beasts of the
earth and the creatures of the air; lots of opportunity for imaginative animal costumes.
SATB, soprano/dancer, 6 solo children (treble voices), children’s chorus, piano
Duration: 1 hour (with intermission)

THE UNHAPPY KINGDOM (2005)
A musical fable for orchestra, dancers, and narrator to a story by the composer.
This “quest” story introduces children to the instruments of the orchestra and tells us
that without music and dancing people cannot be happy. The dance roles may be taken by students of various ages.
Narrator (speaker), dancers, 1111 1111 perc(2) string quintet (2111)
Duration: 30 minutes

MUSICAL THEATER

BARATARIA (1997)
A Musical Comedy
Original play and lyrics by Royall Tyler; adaptation, additional lyrics, music, and
orchestrations by Zeke Hecker.
Tyler’s 1797 play is a gloss on the episode in Cervantes’s “Don Quixote” in which
Sancho Panza is duped into believing he has been made governor of an island. This
provides Tyler with an opportunity to make fun of lawyers, doctors, and politicians
within the context of a romantic comedy. This setting employs the full resources
of classic American musical comedy.
11 solo singers, chorus SATB, speaking and dancing roles, dance ensemble.
1(picc)1(EH)01 1110 perc(1) hpschd string quartet (1111)
Duration: 2 hours

TRYST (1999, revised 2013)
An Adult(erous) Musical
Book, lyrics, and music by Zeke Hecker.
A group of middle-aged people seek fulfillment in extramarital affairs, with results both amusing and wistful.
Four actors (two men, two women) and piano
Duration: 2 hours

DOUBLE EXPOSURE (2003)
A Musical Play
Book, lyrics, and music by Zeke Hecker.
A marriage in midlife crisis, with photography as a recurring theme and an element in
the staging.
Two actors (one man, one woman) and piano
Duration: 2 hours

BEMUSED (2004)
A Musical Comedy
Book, lyrics, and music by Zeke Hecker.
A celebrated poet suffers writer’s block unless there’s a woman in his life. Here he has
to deal with three, who double roles as a trio of disapproving Muses.
Four actors (one man, three women) and piano
Duration: 2 hours

THE LIFT (2007)
A Musical Comedy
Book, lyrics, and music by Zeke Hecker, based on an episode from “The Confessions of Felix Krull” by Thomas Mann.
A young thief thinks he has conquered Paris, until he meets his match in an older
woman. A third actor plays multiple roles.
Three actors (two men, one woman) and piano
Duration: 90 minutes

BALANCING ACT (2009)
A Musical Comedy
Book by Zeke Hecker and Stephanie Petkanas; lyrics and music by Zeke Hecker.
An exurbanite woman tries to make a living, and a life, in Vermont.
Three actors (two women, one man) and piano. (In progress)

MIRROR IMAGE (2010-2011)
A Musical Play
Book, lyrics, and music by Zeke Hecker.
Two couples face marital difficulties; the women seek self-awareness in their mirror
images, or opposites. One male actor plays two roles as the husband of each woman.
Three actors (two women, one man) and piano.

CLEANING HOUSE (2013)
A Musical Play in One Act
Book, lyrics, and music by Zeke Hecker.
A divorced editor at a book publishing company hires a cleaning woman to straighten
up his messy house, but gets more than he bargained for, in the form of lessons
in literature, food, and friendship.
Two actors (one man, one woman) and piano.

NOW AND THEN (2013-14)
A Musical Play
Book, lyrics, and music by Zeke Hecker.
Three people in midlife form the eternal triangle, with jealousy taking a surprising
form and the action hovering between past and present.
Three actors (one man, two women) and piano.

NOT FOR PROFIT (2015)
A Chamber Musical
Book, lyrics, and music by Zeke Hecker.
Harmonia Concerts is caught in a fiscal crunch. Hoping for a cash transfusion,
two trustees recruit a local business mogul to join the board. Personal and financial complications ensue.
Three actors (one man, two women) and chamber ensemble (violin, cello, piano)
Duration: 105 minutes

PROFILE (2015)
A Musical Play in One Act
Book. lyrics, and music by Zeke Hecker.
A prominent novelist who has not published a work in over three decades and lives
a reclusive life finally grants a series of interviews to an ambitious young journalist. Neither turns out to be who they seem.
Two actors (two women) and piano.

PRIVATE MATTERS (2017)
A Musical Play
Book, lyrics, and music by Zeke Hecker, freely adapted from the story “Copy” by Edith Wharton.
Should a public figure be allowed a private life? Two former lovers meet decades after their affair, at the funeral of the woman’s husband. Her grown daughter, who works for an online reputation management company, is suspicious of this stranger. He has political aspirations. The daughter uncovers potentially damaging information, and must decide what to do with it.
Three actors (one man, two women) and piano.

MOVE (2018)
A Musical in One Act
Book, Lyrics, and Music by Zeke Hecker
A woman decides to leave the East, load her belongings in a rented moving van, and drive to a new life in Wisconsin. Along the way she meets an odd assortment of men, all played by the same actor.
Two actors (one woman, one man) and piano.

UNSUITED (2019)
An Alleged Musical Comedy
Book, Lyrics, and Music by Zeke Hecker
Two actors each play two roles, a lawyer and a client, enmeshed in a pair of criss-crossing lawsuits concerning wrongful dismissal and intellectual property, with romantic complications.
Two actors (one woman, one man) and piano.

ARRANGEMENTS

FIVE RUECKERT LIEDER (1986)
Songs of Gustav Mahler arranged for mezzo-soprano and woodwind quintet, in the original keys.

GUILFORD DANCES (2011)
Five contradances by Rich Blazej arranged for small orchestra.
1121 2100 strings
Duration: 8 minutes

THREE SONDHEIM BALLADS (2012)
transcribed for woodwind quintet

THREE DEBUSSY RARITIES (2012)
arranged and orchestrated for small orchestra
1. Hommage a Haydn  2. Berceuse Heroique  3. Danse Bohemienne
2222 2000 strings
Duration: 9 minutes

FIVE PRELUDES BY CARLOS GUASTAVINO (2014)
Arranged for woodwind quintet
Duration: 9 minutes

ALICE (2015)
Suite from the incidental music to the play. Words by Lewis Carroll. Music by Nick Humez.
Arranged for soprano, baritone, and small orchestra.
2222 2200 strings
Duration: 10 minutes

BRIDGE SUITE (2018)
Five pieces by Frank Bridge
Arranged for wind nonet
2 flutes, 1 oboe, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns
Duration: 11 minutes

TWO PIECES BY FANNY MENDELSSOHN (2019)
Arranged for wind nonet
2 flutes, 1 oboe, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 2 horns
Duration: 6 minutes