org, 1906-1977 US, Westcliff-on-Sea
Classical
A.k.a. Edward George Power Biggs
English organist and harpsichordist. *29 March 1906 in Westcliff-on-Sea, England, UK †10 March 1977 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA Biggs was born in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, England; a year later, the family moved to the Isle of Wight. Biggs was trained in London at the Royal Academy of Music, where he studied with G.D. Cunningham. Biggs emigrated to the United States in 1930. In 1932, he took up a post at Christ Church in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where he lived for the rest of his life. Biggs did much to bring the classical pipe organ back to prominence, and was in the forefront of the mid-20th-century resurgence of interest in the organ music of pre-Romantic composers. On his first concert tour of Europe, in 1954, Biggs performed and recorded works of Johann Sebastian Bach, Sweelinck, Dieterich Buxtehude, and Pachelbel on historic organs associated with those composers. Thereafter, he believed that such music should ideally be performed on instruments representative of that period and that organ music of that epoch should be played by using (as closely as possible) the styles and registrations of that era. Thus, he sparked the American revival of organ building in the style of European Baroque instruments, seen especially in the increasing popularity of tracker organs — analogous to Europe's Orgelbewegung. Among other instruments, Biggs championed G. Donald Harrison's Baroque-style unenclosed, unencased instrument with 24 stops and electric action (produced by Aeolian-Skinner in 1937 and installed in Harvard's Busch-Reisinger Museum, Cambridge, Massachusetts) and the three-manual Flentrop tracker organ subsequently installed there in 1958. Many of his CBS radio broadcasts and Columbia recordings were made in the museum. Another remarkable instrument used by Biggs was the Challis pedal harpsichord; Biggs made recordings of the music of J.S. Bach and Scott Joplin on this instrument. His critics of the time included rival concert organist Virgil Fox, who was known for a more flamboyant, colorful style of performance. Fox decried Biggs' insistence on historical accuracy, claiming it was "relegating the organ to a museum piece." However, most observers agree that Biggs "should be given great credit for his innovative ideas as far as the musical material he recorded, and for making the organs he recorded even more famous."[2] Despite different approaches, both artists enjoyed hugely successful careers and Biggs rose to the top of his profession. In addition to concertizing and recording, Biggs taught at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at various times in his career and edited a large body of organ music. For his contribution to the recording industry, E. Power Biggs has a star on California's Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 6522 Hollywood Blvd.
Track list and 30sec audio provided by
Title | Artist | Year | Type |
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A Biggs Festival | E. Power Biggs | 1999 | Compil. |
The Glorious Sound of Brass - Renaissance and Baroque Masterpieces | William Brade, Aurelio Bonelli, Johann Pezel, Roland de Lassus, Gottfried Reiche, Anthony Holborne, Jeremiah Clarke, Georg Friedrich Händel, William Croft, Henry Purcell, Georg Philipp Telemann, Philadelphia Brass Ensemble, New England Brass Ensemble, E. Power Biggs | 1997 | Compil. |
Gabrieli in San Marco | Giovanni Gabrieli, E. Power Biggs | 1996 | Compil. |
The Glory Of Gabrielli: Music For Multiple Choirs, Brass and Organ | E. Power Biggs, Vittorio Negri, Gregg Smith Singers, Texas Boys' Choir, The Edward Tarr Brass Ensemble | 1996 | Album |
Toccata And Fugue In D Minor, Fugue In G Minor ('Little') | Johann Sebastian Bach, E. Power Biggs | 1995 | Single |
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring And Other Great Works | Johann Sebastian Bach, Glenn Gould, E. Power Biggs, English Chamber Orchestra, Raymond Leppard, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy | 1994 | Compil. |
Toccata & Fugue • Passacaglia & Fugue • Pastorale | Johann Sebastian Bach, E. Power Biggs | 1991 | Compil. |
Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony (No. 3 In C Minor, Op. 78) | The Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy, E. Power Biggs, Camille Saint-Saëns | 1991 | Compil. |
Mozart Organ Tour - Volume 2 | Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, E. Power Biggs | 1990 | Compil. |
Great Organ Favorites | Johann Sebastian Bach - E. Power Biggs | 1989 | Compil. |
Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring / Sheep May Safely Graze | Johann Sebastian Bach, E. Power Biggs Organ Columbia Chamber Orchestra Conducted By Richard Burgin | 1989 | Single |
Music Of Jubilee | Johann Sebastian Bach - E. Power Biggs, The Columbia Chamber Symphony, Zoltan Rozsnyai, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Hans-Joachim Rotzsch | 1989 | Compil. |
The Glory Of Venice - Gabrieli In San Marco | E. Power Biggs, Giovanni Gabrieli | 1989 | Compil. |
Die Meisterwerke Für Orgel 1 | Johann Sebastian Bach, E. Power Biggs | 1988 | Album |
Organ Music | Johann Sebastian Bach, E. Power Biggs | 1988 | Compil. |
The Great Preludes & Fugues, Vol. 1 | Johann Sebastian Bach - E. Power Biggs | 1988 | Compil. |
Eight Little Preludes And Fugues (Played On Eight Famous Continental Organs) | Johann Sebastian Bach, E. Power Biggs | 1988 | Album |
The Great Preludes & Fugues, Vol. II | Johann Sebastian Bach, E. Power Biggs | 1988 | Compil. |
Documenti Sonori: Musica Strumentale Nel '500 E Nel '600 - Sonata Nomi Toni E Canzoni / Tre Gagliarde / Capriccio Sopra La Battaglia - Due Gagliarde / Variazioni Sopra La Follia / Cinque Versetti / Offertorio | Giovanni Gabrieli / Girolamo Frescobaldi / Giovanni Maria Trabaci / Bernardo Pasquini / Domenico Zipoli Organo E. Power Biggs Direttore Vittorio Negri | 1984 | Compil. |
Documenti Sonori: Johann Sebastian Bach - Concerto N.1 In La Minore Per Violino, Archi E Basso Continuo BWV 1041 / Toccata E Fuga In Re Minore Per Organo BWV 565 / Toccata, Adagio E Fuga In Do Maggiore Per Organo BWV 564 | Johann Sebastian Bach Violino Pinchas Zukerman Organo E. Power Biggs / English Chamber Orchestra | 1984 | Album |
Bach On The Pedal Harpsichord The Six Trio Sonatas Vol. 1 (Nos. 1-3) | Johann Sebastian Bach, E. Power Biggs | 1983 | Album |
Kantaten. Vorspiele Für Orgel Und Orchester | Johann Sebastian Bach - E. Power Biggs, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, Hans-Joachim Rotzsch | 1977 | Album |
Stars And Stripes Forever | E. Power Biggs | 1976 | Album |
Eight Little Preludes And Fugues / Concerto In D Minor After Vivaldi | E. Power Biggs - Johann Sebastian Bach | 1976 | Album |
17 Chorale Preludes From The "Orgelbüchlein" | Johann Sebastian Bach - E. Power Biggs | 1976 | Album |
E. Power Biggs Plays Scott Joplin On The Pedal Harpsichord (Volume II) | E. Power Biggs Plays Scott Joplin | 1975 | Album |
Bach Organ Favorites | Johann Sebastian Bach - E. Power Biggs | 1975 | Album |
The Four Antiphonal Organs Of The Cathedral Of Freiburg Played Simultaneously By | E. Power Biggs, Georg Friedrich Händel, Henry Purcell, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Dieterich Buxtehude, Johann Ludwig Krebs, Adriano Banchieri, André Campra | 1975 | Album |
Six Concertos After Italian Masters | E. Power Biggs - Johann Gottfried Walther | 1974 | Album |
Bach / The Four "Great" Toccatas And Fugues - The Four Aniphonal Organs Of The Cathedral Of Freiburg Played Simultaneously By | E. Power Biggs | 1974 | Album |
Mozart: The 17 Festival Sonatas / Haydn: The 3 Organ Concertos | E. Power Biggs, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Joseph Haydn | 1974 | Compil. |
Rheinberger: Two Concertos For Organ & Orchestra E Power Biggs op. 137 / G-moll, Op. 177 | E. Power Biggs, Josef Rheinberger | 1974 | Album |
The Four "Great" Toccatas And Fugues | E. Power Biggs, Johann Sebastian Bach | 1974 | Album |
Bach Organ Favorites, Volume 6 | E. Power Biggs, Johann Sebastian Bach | 1974 | Album |
Handel: The Sixteen Organ Concertos, Vol 2 (Nos 10-16) | Georg Friedrich Händel, E. Power Biggs, Sir Adrian Boult, The London Philharmonic Orchestra | 1973 | Album |
Heroic Music For Organ, Brass & Percussion | E. Power Biggs, New England Brass Ensemble, Richard Burgin | 1973 | Compil. |
Two Concertos For Organ & Orchestra | E. Power Biggs, Josef Rheinberger | 1973 | Album |
Best Of Bach | Johann Sebastian Bach, E. Power Biggs | 1973 | Album |
E. Power Biggs Plays Scott Joplin On The Pedal Harpsichord | E. Power Biggs Plays Scott Joplin | 1973 | Album |
Two Concertos For Organ & Orchestra | E. Power Biggs, Josef Rheinberger | 1973 | Album |
Música Heróica para Orgão, Metais e Percussão vol. 2 | E. Power Biggs | 1973 | Compil. |
Famous Organs Of Holland And North Germany | E. Power Biggs | 1973 | Album |
Maple Leaf Rag / Cleophia-March and Two Step | E. Power Biggs | 1973 | Single |
A Mini Discourse | E. Power Biggs | 1973 | Single |
The Golden Age Of The Organ | Johann Sebastian Bach, E. Power Biggs | 1973 | Album |
The Magnificent Mr. Handel Vol. II | E. Power Biggs | 1972 | Album |
Music For Organ, Brass And Percussion | E. Power Biggs, The Columbia Brass And Percussion Ensemble, Maurice Peress | 1972 | Album |
Bach Organ Favorites, Vol. 5 | E. Power Biggs | 1972 | Album |
24 Historic Organs In 8 Countries Covering 7 Centuries Of Music By 24 Composers | E. Power Biggs | 1972 | Compil. |
Historic Organs Of England | E. Power Biggs | 1971 | Album |
The Glory Of Venice: Gabrieli in San Marco | Giovanni Gabrieli, E. Power Biggs, The Edward Tarr Brass Ensemble, Gregg Smith Singers, Texas Boys' Choir, Vittorio Negri | 1971 | Album |
Weihnachtliche Musik | Johann Sebastian Bach, Anthony Holborne, Johann Pezel, Klaus Martin Ziegler, Burckhardt Schmale, Helmut Kunte, E. Power Biggs, Kasseler Vokalenensemble, Ingrid Stieber | 1971 | Compil. |
The Biggs Bach Book | E. Power Biggs / Johann Sebastian Bach | 1971 | Album |
Historische Orgeln Europas Vol.I England/Holland/Italien/Spanien | E. Power Biggs | 1971 | Album |
Bach Organ Favorites, Vol. 4 | E. Power Biggs | 1970 | Album |
Historic Organs Of England | E. Power Biggs | 1970 | Album |
Historic Organs Of France | E. Power Biggs | 1970 | Album |
E. Power Biggs Plays Bach In The Thomaskirche | E. Power Biggs | 1970 | Album |
The Magnificent Mr. Handel (Concertos, Curtain Tunes, Marches, Ayres And Divers Pieces) | E. Power Biggs, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Charles Groves | 1970 | Album |
E. Power Biggs' Greatest Hits | E. Power Biggs | 1969 | Compil. |
The Organ In Sight And Sound | E. Power Biggs | 1969 | Compil. |
Historic Organs Of Italy (Organs Of Bologna, Brescia, Ravenna And Bergamo) | E. Power Biggs | 1969 | Album |
The Glory Of Gabrieli (Music For Multiple Choirs, Brass And Organ) | Giovanni Gabrieli - E. Power Biggs, Gregg Smith Singers / Texas Boys' Choir, The Edward Tarr Brass Ensemble, Vittorio Negri | 1968 | Album |
Organ Symphony / Serenade For Violin And Orchestra | Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland - E. Power Biggs, Zino Francescatti, The New York Philharmonic Orchestra | 1968 | Album |
Canzonas For Brass, Winds, Strings And Organ | Giovanni Gabrieli - The Edward Tarr Brass Ensemble / Gabrieli Consort La Fenice, E. Power Biggs, Vittorio Negri | 1968 | Album |
Historic Organs Of Spain | E. Power Biggs | 1968 | Album |
Bach Organ Favorites, Volume 3 | E. Power Biggs, Johann Sebastian Bach | 1968 | Album |
Bach Organ Favorites | Johann Sebastian Bach : E. Power Biggs | 1967 | Album |
Plays The Historic Organs Of Europe/Switzerland | E. Power Biggs | 1967 | Album |
Buxtehude At Lüneburg - The Glory Of The Baroque Organ | Dieterich Buxtehude • E. Power Biggs | 1967 | Album |
Bach On The Pedal Harpsichord | Johann Sebastian Bach - E. Power Biggs | 1966 | Album |
Holiday For Harpsichord | E. Power Biggs | 1966 | Album |
E. Power Biggs Plays Mozart: The Music For Solo Organ Played On The Mozart Organ At Haarlem | E. Power Biggs, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | 1966 | Album |
The 17 Festival Sonatas For Organ And Orchestra | E. Power Biggs Plays Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Zoltan Rozsnyai Conducting Columbia Symphony Orchestra | 1966 | Album |
Bach Organ Favorites, Volume 2 | E. Power Biggs | 1965 | Album |
The Three Organ Concertos | Joseph Haydn - E. Power Biggs | 1964 | Album |
Music Of Jubilee (Bach Favorites For Organ And Orchestra) | Johann Sebastian Bach - E. Power Biggs, The Columbia Chamber Symphony, Zoltan Rozsnyai | 1964 | Album |
The Cuckoo And The Nightingale (Four Favorite Handel Organ Concertos) | Georg Friedrich Händel - E. Power Biggs, Sir Adrian Boult, The London Philharmonic Orchestra | 1963 | Album |
The Columbia New Releaser, August 1963 | The Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy, The New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein, E. Power Biggs, Igor Stravinsky, Budapest String Quartet | 1963 | Compil. |
Organ Symphony (No. 3 In C Minor, Op. 78) | Camille Saint-Saëns - The Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy, E. Power Biggs | 1963 | Album |
Music For A Merry Christmas | E. Power Biggs | 1963 | Album |
Organ Music Of Bach | Johann Sebastian Bach - E. Power Biggs | 1962 | Album |
Music For Organ And Orchestra: Festival Prelude For Organ And Orchestra Op. 61 - Organ Concerto In G Minor - Toccata Festiva, Op. 36 | Richard Strauss - Francis Poulenc - Samuel Barber / E. Power Biggs ; The New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Leonard Bernstein, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy | 1962 | Album |
Heroic Music For Organ, Brass And Percussion | E. Power Biggs, New England Brass Ensemble | 1962 | Album |
Three Sonatas For Organ | Paul Hindemith / E. Power Biggs | 1961 | Album |
A Festival Of French Organ Music | E. Power Biggs | 1961 | Album |
Six Double Concertos For Two Organs | Padre Antonio Soler - E. Power Biggs And Daniel Pinkham | 1961 | Album |
Joyeux Noël: 12 Noëls By Louis Claude Daquin | E. Power Biggs | 1960 | Album |
The Organ Concertos Of Handel, Nos. 13-16 | Georg Friedrich Händel - E. Power Biggs, Sir Adrian Boult, The London Philharmonic Orchestra | 1959 | Album |
The Organ Concertos Of Handel Op. 4 Nos. 1, 5, 6 | E. Power Biggs, Sir Adrian Boult, The London Philharmonic Orchestra | 1959 | Album |
The Organ Concertos Of Handel Op. 4 Nos. 2, 3, 4 | E. Power Biggs, Sir Adrian Boult, The London Philharmonic Orchestra | 1959 | Album |
In St. Paul's Cathedral | Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy / E. Power Biggs | 1959 | Album |
The Organ | E. Power Biggs | 1958 | Album |
Bach At Zwolle | E. Power Biggs | 1958 | Album |
The Organ Concertos of Handel Nos. 1-6, Op.4 | E. Power Biggs, Sir Adrian Boult, The London Philharmonic Orchestra | 1958 | Album |
Organ Music Of Spain And Portugal | E. Power Biggs | 1957 | Album |
Concerto For Organ And Chamber Orchestra, Op.46, No. 2 / Sonata No. 7 In F Minor For Organ Op.127 | Paul Hindemith / Josef Rheinberger - Richard Burgin Conducting The Columbia Chamber Orchestra, E. Power Biggs | 1957 | Album |
Symphony No. 3 In C Minor, Op. 78 | Camille Saint-Saëns - The Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy, E. Power Biggs | 1957 | Album |
Promotional Interviews And Musical Excerpts For Four Albums Of 1955/1956 | E. Power Biggs, Camerata Academica Salzburg, Bernhard Paumgartner | 1956 | Album |
Cathedral Voluntaries and Processionals By Bach, Purcell, Schubert, Strauss, Vaughan Williams | E. Power Biggs | 1956 | Album |
A Mozart Organ Tour | E. Power Biggs, Camerata Academica Salzburg, Bernhard Paumgartner | 1956 | Album |
Toccata (5th Symphony) / Finale (1st Symphony) | E. Power Biggs, Charles-Marie Widor, Louis Vierne | 1956 | Single |
Bach: The Little Organ Book | E. Power Biggs | 1956 | Album |
The Art Of The Organ - Volume 1 | E. Power Biggs | 1955 | Album |
Concerto In G Minor For Organ, String Orchestra And Timpani / Prelude, Fugue And Variation, Op. 18 ‧ Pièce Héroïque | Francis Poulenc ‧ César Franck / E. Power Biggs | 1955 | Album |
Toccata In D Minor (A Hi-Fi Adventure) | Johann Sebastian Bach : E. Power Biggs | 1955 | Album |
Demonstration Record - The Art Of The Organ | E. Power Biggs | 1955 | Album |
Reubke: Sonata In C Minor For Organ On The 94th Psalm / Liszt: Fantasia And Fugue On B.A.C.H. / Gloria And Credo (From An Organ Mass) | Julius Reubke / Franz Liszt − E. Power Biggs | 1954 | Album |
Bach Festival | Johann Sebastian Bach, E. Power Biggs | 1953 | Album |
Bach's Royal Instrument Vol. 3 | Johann Sebastian Bach - E. Power Biggs | 1952 | Album |
Music of Jubilee | Johann Sebastian Bach, E. Power Biggs | 1951 | Album |
Westminster Suite/Recital | E. Power Biggs | 1950 | Album |
Bach's Royal Instrument Part II | E. Power Biggs | 1950 | Album |
Bach's Royal Instrument Volume 1 | E. Power Biggs | 1950 | Album |
French Organ Music | E. Power Biggs | 1949 | Album |
Sonata No. 6 In D Minor, Op. 65 / A Bach Recital | Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Johann Sebastian Bach - E. Power Biggs | 1949 | Album |
Adagio And Rondo, K. 617 | E. Power Biggs | 1947 | Album |
Bach Organ Music | E. Power Biggs | 1946 | Album |
Sonata In F For Organ And Strings | E. Power Biggs - Arcangelo Corelli | 1946 | Album |
Prelude And Fugue In E Minor ("Cathedral") | E. Power Biggs | 1945 | Album |
Concerto For Organ And Strings In C | Arcangelo Corelli, The Arthur Fiedler Sinfonietta With E. Power Biggs Arranged By Gian Francesco Malipiero | 1943 | Album |
Processional And Ceremonial Music For Voices, Organ And Brass | The Harvard Glee Club, Radcliffe Choral Society, Boston Symphony Orchestra Brass Choir, E. Power Biggs, G. Wallace Woodworth / Giovanni Gabrieli | 1943 | Album |
The Art of the Fugue (Die Kunst der Fuge) (Volume II) | Johann Sebastian Bach, E. Power Biggs | 1941 | Album |
Toccata And Fuge In D Minor | Johann Sebastian Bach, E. Power Biggs | 1941 | Album |
Bach Daquin Organ Music | E. Power Biggs | 1939 | Album |
Rejoice | E. Power Biggs | Single | |
Adventures In Sound With E. Power Biggs | E. Power Biggs | Single | |
Bach Organ Favorites | E. Power Biggs | Album | |
Organ Concertos Op. 4 Nos. 1 And 4 | Georg Friedrich Händel - E. Power Biggs, The London Philharmonic Orchestra, Sir Adrian Boult | Album | |
Highlights From Handel's Messiah | Georg Friedrich Händel, Eugene Ormandy, E. Power Biggs, New England Brass Ensemble, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Richard P. Condie, Eileen Farrell, Martha Lipton, Davis Cunningham, William Warfield | Album | |
Julius Reubke Sonata For Organ In C Minor On The 94th Psalm | E. Power Biggs | Album | |
A Tribute To E. Power Biggs (1906 - 1977) | E. Power Biggs | Album | |
Music For Organ And Brass: Canzonas Of Gabrieli And Frescobaldi | E. Power Biggs, New England Brass Ensemble, Richard Burgin | Album | |
What Child Is This | E. Power Biggs, Gregg Smith Singers, Texas Boys' Choir, New York Brass And Percussion Ensemble | Album | |
The Organ In America | E. Power Biggs | Album | |
Orgelconcerten No. 13 En No. 9 | Georg Friedrich Händel, E. Power Biggs, Sir Adrian Boult, The London Philharmonic Orchestra | Album | |
Concerto For Organ And Orchestra Op. 4 No. 6 | E. Power Biggs, Sir Adrian Boult, The London Philharmonic Orchestra, Georg Friedrich Händel | Single | |
The Organ Through The Ages | E. Power Biggs | Single | |
Bach: The Six Trio Sonatas Played On The Pedal Harpsichord | E. Power Biggs | Album | |
Jesu Joy Of Man's Desiring | E. Power Biggs & Columbia Chamber Orchestra | Single | |
The Art of the Organ | E. Power Biggs | Album | |
Reinassance Eines Historischen Instruments - Bach Auf Dem Pedalcembalo - Die 6 Trio-Sonaten "Ii" Nr. 4 C-moll Bwv 528 / Nr. 5 C-dur Bwv 529 / Nr. 6 G-dur Bwv 530 /Konzert Nr. 2 A-moll Bwv 593 "Erstmals Auf Pedalcembalo" | Johann Sebastian Bach, E. Power Biggs | Album | |
Variations On A Noel | E. Power Biggs | Album | |
The Art Of The Organ - Volume 2 | E. Power Biggs | Album | |
A Mozart Organ Tour - Volume 1 | E. Power Biggs, Camerata Academica Salzburg, Bernhard Paumgartner | Album | |
Noel Grand Jeu Et Duo / Noel Sur Les Flutes | E. Power Biggs | Album | |
The Sounds of Christmas Presented By Sylvania | André Kostelanetz And His Orchestra, Percy Faith & His Orchestra, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Richard P. Condie, Philadelphia Brass Ensemble, Charlie Byrd, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Eugene Ormandy, E. Power Biggs, Ray Conniff And The Singers | Compil. | |
The Organ Concerto Of Handel Nos. 7-12 (Op. 7, Nos. 1-6) | Georg Friedrich Händel - E. Power Biggs | Album | |
Festival De Musique Francaise D'Orgue | E. Power Biggs | Album | |
Sonata No. 6 In D Minor, Op.65 | E. Power Biggs, Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy | Album | |
The Little Organ Book - Christmas / New Year's Eve | E. Power Biggs | Album |