Richard Keys Biggs (Composer)

Born: 1886 - Brooklyn, New York, USA (?)
Died: 1962

The American organist and composer, Richard Keys Biggs had Hon.Mus.D from th Loyola University Chicago. He studied in London with Sir Richard Runciman Terry.

Richard Keys Biggs was a church organist Southern Caltfornia. He was organist of the San Diego Exposition; Luke’s (Episcopal); Patrick’s, Montréal, Quebéc; Paul’s (Episcopal). In the 1940’s he was director of the men's and boy's choirs of the new church and parochial school at Blessed Sacrament in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. Biggs was one of the more noted among the hundreds of working church organists, but he was ignored by the public at large, appreciated primarily by his church and its congregation.

Richard Keys Biggs was the organ teacher of the famed choral director Roger Wagner and of the organnist, harpsichordist, pianist, fortepianist, conductor, writer, and teacher Anthony Newman. His son is the organist John Biggs, lecturer at the Kansas State Teachers College.

Source: University At Long Beach Website; Bits & pieces from other sources
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (August 2011)

Richard Keys Biggs: Short Biography | Arrangements/Transcriptions: Works | Recordings

Chorale Melodies used in Bach’s Vocal Works

Links to other Sites

The Oral History of the Arts Archive in the Library of California State (University At Long Beach)

Bibliography

Sister Angela Breeden: “The Career of Richard Keys Bigg" (June, 1980, vii + 49 pp.), includes extensive listings of performances, compositions, and career detail