Baigent’s work as a composer and conductor interlocks; he is fascinated by the relationship of form and content in music, and seeks to explore this tension in his own works.  

Widely performed internationally by artists including Sir Antonio Pappano and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Nicholas Collon and the Aurora Orchestra, the Britten Sinfonia, the Choir of St Paul’s Cathedral, and the viol consort Fretwork, Baigent’s works have been commissioned and awarded prizes by institutions including the Royal Philharmonic Society, the BBC, and the National Centre for Early Music.  As well as broadcasts on BBC Radio 3, Classic FM, and other European radio stations, his music has been heard in venues such as the Royal Festival Hall, Kings Place, and Washington National Cathedral.

Recent highlights include the world premiere of his opera Paradise Lost at Shipwright Theatre in 2022 and a new mass for the London Festival of Contemporary Church Music.

To discuss performances and commissions please email bertie@bertiebaigent.com
"an exquisite essay in
post-Bartókian 
harmonies and
textures"

(The Independent)
"an utterly captivating night
​of theatre"

(British Society for 18th-Century Studies)

Ricercar (2019)

2222 – 4230 – perc – timp – strings (14’)

Euler's bridges (2013)

2222 – 4331 – perc – harp – strings (5’)

First performed by Oxfordshire County Youth Orchestra, conducted by Dr John Traill on 20 April 2013

King's gambit (2013)

2222 – 4331 – perc – harp – strings (3’)

First performed by the National Youth Orchestra conducted by Gerry Cornelius on 6 April 2013

En chamade (2012)

2222 – 4331 – perc – strings (30”)

Winner of the Royal Opera House Fanfare Competition 2012

First performed by the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano on 20 May 2012

Vague surface, looming (2012)

2222 – 4331 – perc – harp – strings (3’)

First performed by the National Youth Orchestra conducted by Gerry Cornelius on 29 July 2012

Relentless devices (2011)

2222 – 4331 – perc – harp – strings (4’)

Two frames for Madame Menier (2018)

1111 – 0000 – marimba – piano - strings (11110) (7’)

Semi-finalist in Concorso Michele Novaro 2018

Paean: “earth’s crammed with heaven” (2018)

1110 – 0000 – perc – keyboard - piano - strings (11111) (5’)

First performed by the London Young Sinfonia, conducted by the composer, in St Marylebone Parish Church, London on 28 July 2017

Things falling out of a cupboard (2013)

1111 – 1110 – perc – strings (11111) (5’)

Highly commended in the BBC Young Composers' Competition 2013

First performed by the Aurora Orchestra conducted by Nicholas Collon in the Royal College of Music on 7 August 2013

First broadcast on BBC Radio 3 on 9 August 2013

Three glimpses (2013)

1111 – 1100 – perc – harp - strings (11111) (10’)

Finalist in the Bath Philharmonia Sound Connections Competition

First performed by the Bath Philharmonia conducted by Jason Thornton in Bath Abbey on 12 October 2013

Where blacker birds flew (2013)

Open score for five parts (5’)

First performed by the National Youth Orchestra conducted by Gerry Cornelius in the Royal Festival Hall on 13 April 2012

Invented events (2012)

1111 – 1110 – perc – harp – strings (11111) (7’)

First performed by the National Youth Orchestra conducted by Gerry Cornelius on 1 August 2012

Cello Concerto "Fantaisie avec fenêtres" (2019)

2222 - 2221 - timp - solo cello - strings (10’)

The Lunar Society (2020)

Flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, piano, harp (8’)

Mr Hetherington’s Hat (2015)

Flute, clarinet, piano, violin, viola, cello, double bass (4’)

Finalist in the Britten Sinfonia Composers’ Workshop 2015

First performed by the Britten Sinfonia conducted by Hugh Brunt on 7 March 2015

View (2014)

Piano, oboe, and string quartet (7’)

First performed by the Michaels Quartet in Trinity College, Cambridge on 7 May 2014.

Joie de vivre (2013)

Fanfare for brass quintet (2')

Commissioned by the Royal Philharmonic Society

First performed by brass players of the National Youth Orchestra conducted by Matthew Coorey on 11 August 2013

Stretched to breaking point (2013)

Cello and piano (3’)

A place where grows no green (2012)

Viola, cello, double bass (5’)

First performed by members of the National Youth Orchestra the Clore Ballroom, Royal Festival Hall, on 14 April 2012

Three miniatures for an angry god (2012)

Trumpet, horn, trombone (4’)

First performed by members of the National Youth Orchestra on 3 January 2013

The sound of shadows (2011)

Oboe, trumpet, percussion (4’)

First performed by members of the National Youth Orchestra on 4 January 2012

Neck and neck (2011)

Cello and piano (4’)

Fanfare (2011)

Trumpet and organ (3’)

First performed by Matthew Holmes (trumpet) and Bertie Baigent (organ) on 5 December 2011

Diffusion (2011)

Two choirs: flute, oboe, bass clarinet, marimba and clarinet, cor anglais, bassoon, xylophone (5’)

In memoriam In Nomine (2011)

Viol consort (3’)

Winner of the National Centre for Early Music Young Composers' Award 2011

First performed by Fretwork on in Kings Place on 21 December 2011

First broadcast on BBC Radio 3 on 22 January 2012

Feint (2020)

Clarinet (5')

Dedicated to Jason Shafer, Principal Clarinet of Colorado Symphony

A quiet pavan, with canons (2018)

Organ (7')

Commissioned by Robert Smith and Stefan Schwarz

First performed by Robert Smith in the Maria-Magdalenen-Kirche, Templin on 27 July 2018

proud rock/bright sky (2016)

Organ (7')

Commissioned by Robert Smith and Stefan Schwarz

First performed by Robert Smith in the Christuskirche, Dresden on 8 August 2016

Fantasia with windows (2016)

Organ (5')

First performed by Bertie Baigent at the Buxton Festival 2016.

Organ (4')

First performed by Bertie Baigent in Jesus College, Cambridge on 24 May 2015

Bright spark, shot from a brighter place (2014)

Organ (5')

Commissioned by Robert Smith and Stefan Schwarz

First performed by Robert Smith in the Auenkirche, Berlin on 1 August 2014

Wenn mein Stündlein vorhanden ist (2014)

Runner-up in the Royal College of Organists Orgelbüchlein Composition Competition

First performed by Martin Noble in Southwark Cathedral on 8 March 2014

What is the night? (2014)

Organ (20’)

First performed by Bertie Baigent in Jesus College, Cambridge on 20 May 2014

Rhapsody on ‘O Emmanuel’ (2012)

Organ (5')

Jumping to conclusions (2012)

Piano (1')

Three Coleridge fragments (2013)

Baritone and piano (6')

Winner of the Ludlow English Song Festival Composition Competition 2013

First performed by Martin Bussey (baritone) and Gavin Roberts (piano) on 30 April 2013

Ascention (2018)

SSAATTBB a cappella (6')

First performed by the Choir of St Marylebone Parish Church, London, conducted by the composer as part of the London Festival of Contemporary Church Music on 13 May 2018.

There is no rose (2016)

SATB and organ (4')

Sancti Spiritus (2016)

Boys' voices and organ (4')

Commissioned by Choir & Organ magazine for St Paul's Cathedral. First performed by the choristers of St Paul's Cathedral conducted by Andrew Carwood on 17 May 2016.

Oculi omnium (2015)

SSAATTB (1')

First performed by the Choir of Jesus College Cambridge conducted by Mark Williams on 11 December 2015.

An Echo from Willow-Wood (2015)

SATB (6')

Winner of the Stainer and Bell Choral Composition Competition 2015.

First performed by Novaura conducted by Harry Bradford on 14 November 2015, in the Chapel of Magdalene College, Cambridge.

Noli claudere aures tuas (2015)

SATB (with divisions) (4')

First performed by the Elysian Singers conducted by Sam Laughton on 17 March 2015, in St Martin in the Fields, London.

I am the good shepherd (2013)

SATB (5’)

First performed by the Choir of Somerville College, Oxford conducted by David Crown on 25 May 2014.

The Lord almighty grant us a quiet night (2012)

SATB (2’)

Commissioned by the Royal College of Organists

First performed by members of the RCO Organ Scholar Experience Course 2012 conducted by Bertie Baigent in St John's College, Cambridge on 29 July 2012

Adam lay ybounden (2012)

SATB (3’)

First performed by St Margaret's Church Choir, Oxford conducted by Bertie Baigent on 2 December 2012

Preces and responses (2012)

SATB (6’)

First performed by St Margaret's Church Choir, Oxford conducted by Bertie Baigent on 23 June 2012

The Nightingale and the Rose (2016)

Soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, bass, and chamber orchestra (20')

The Red Room (2014)

Soprano, baritone, and chamber ensemble (5')

West Pier (2015)

Flute, clarinet, accordion, violin, and cello (5')

A journey’s end (2014)

Oboe and string quartet (5')
Selected scores are available at BabelScores.  Please email bertie@bertiebaigent.com if you would like to view a score or perform a piece.  
Photo credits: Marc Brenner, Ben Ealovega, Kalen Jesse