Chester Biscardi (b. Kenosha, Wisconsin, October 19, 1948; nicknamed Chet) is an Italian American composer and educator.

He received a B.A. degree in English literature from the University of Wisconsin–Madison (1970); he studied during 1969–1970 at the University of Bologna and the Conservatorio di Musica "G. B. Martini"; he received an M.A. in Italian literature from the University of Wisconsin–Madison (1972); he received an M.M. in composition from the University of Wisconsin–Madison (1974); he received a M.M.A. in composition from Yale University (1976); and he received a D.M.A. in composition from Yale University (1980).

His composition instructors have included Les Thimmig, Mario Davidovsky, Robert Morris, Yehudi Wyner, Krzysztof Penderecki and Tōru Takemitsu.

He has been a member of the faculty of Sarah Lawrence College since 1977. He is openly gay.^[1]

Biscardi's music has been released on the Albany, American Modern Recordings, Bridge, CRI (New World Records), Furious Artisans, Intim Musik (Sweden), Naxos, New Albion, New Ariel, North/South Recordings, Perfect Enemy Records, and Sept Jardins (Canada) labels.

Selected works

Works by Biscardi are published by Merion Music, C.F. Peters and Biscardi Music Press.

Stage

• Tight-Rope, Chamber Opera in 9 uninterrupted scenes (1985); libretto by Henry Butler
• The Duchess of Malfi, Music for the play by John Webster for 9 instrumentalists and voices (1976)

Orchestral

• At the Still Point (1977)

Concertante

• Chartres for solo piano and chamber ensemble (1973)
• Piano Concerto for piano and orchestra (1983)
• Recognition for piano and violin with string orchestra (2004, 2007)

Chamber music

• Tartini for violin and piano (1972)
• orpha for string quartet, marimba and vibraphone (1974)
• Tenzone for 2 flutes and piano (1975)
• they had ceased to talk for violin, viola, horn and piano (1975)
• Trio for violin, cello and piano (1976)
• Trasumanar for 12 percussionists and piano (1980)
• Di Vivere for clarinet and piano (1981), or for clarinet and piano, with flute, violin and cello (1981)
• Music for Witch Dance for 2 percussionists (1983)
• Incitation to Desire (Tango) for clarinet, horn, violin, cello, percussion and piano (1984, 1993); original for piano solo
• Incitation to Desire (Tango) for marimba solo (1984, 2006); original for piano solo
• Traverso for flute and piano (1987)
• No Feeling Is the Same As Before for soprano saxophone solo (1988)
• Companion Piece (for Morton Feldman) for double bass and piano (1989)
• Netori (音取り) for violin, oboe, horn; horn, clarinet, cello; and piano (1990)
• Music for an Occasion for 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, piano and percussion (1992; revised 2003)
• Resisting Stillness for 2 guitars (1996)
• Chamber Fanfare for flute, violin, cello, percussion and piano (1999)
• Music for NASDAQ MarketSiteTV for flute, horn, violin, cello, percussion and piano (1999)
• Piano Quintet' for piano and violin, with violin, viola and cello (2004)
• The Viola Had Suddenly Become a Voice for viola and piano (2005)
• Footfalls (after Beckett) for flute, oboe, two guitars, tingsha, violin and violoncello (2012)
• Footfalls (after Beckett) for flute, oboe, piano, violin and violoncello (2012); original for flute, oboe, two guitars, tingsha, violin and violoncello
• Photo | Pier | Moonlight for violin duo (2015; rev. 2016)
• Suddenly Cello for violoncello and piano (2005/2020)

Piano

• Nel giardinetto della villa for piano 4 hands (1994)
• Companion Piece (for Morton Feldman) (1989, 1991)
• Incitation to Desire (Tango) (1984)
• In Time's Unfolding (2000)
• Piano Sonata (1986; revised 1987)
• Mestiere (1979)

Vocal

• Turning for violin, soprano, and string trio (1973)
• Trusting Lightness for soprano and piano (1975)
• Chez Vous for voice and piano (1983; revised 2007)
• "Poet's Aria" from Tight-Rope for baritone (or tenor) and piano (1985)
• The Gift of Life for soprano and piano (1990–1993)
• Baby Song of the Four Winds for mezzo-soprano (or soprano) and piano (1994)
• Guru for voice (or voices) and piano (1995)
• Prayers of Steel for baritone and piano (1998)
• The Child Comes Every Winter for voice and piano (1999)
• Recovering for voice and piano (2000)
• Modern Love Songs for voice and piano (1997–2002)

What a Coincidence

I Wouldn't Know about That

Someone New

Now You See It, Now You Don't

At Any Given Moment

• Sailors & Dreamers for voice and chamber ensemble / voice and piano (2007-2010)

You've Been on My Mind

Play Me a Song

Seven O'clock at the Cedar (Ode to Kline/de Kooning)

Do You Remember?

I Dance the Tango

Falling Fast

It's Time to Feel Alright Now

• Broken Stars That Go Dark for voice and piano (2016)

Choral

• Heabakes: Five Sapphic Lyrics for mixed chorus, 2 solo sopranos, solo alto, and percussion (1974)
• Indovinello for 12 voices (1974)
• Eurydice for women's chorus and 17 instruments (1978)
• Good-Bye, My Fancy! for mixed chorus a cappella and narrator (1982)
• Mama Never Forgets Her Birds from The Gift of Life for mixed chorus and piano (1997)
• The Child Comes Every Winter for mixed chorus and piano (1999)