EDUCATION
Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition and Theory, University of Illinois, 1984
Composition Teachers: Ben Johnson, John Melby, Paul Zonn, and David Liptak
Doctoral Composition: Firaxis, for Orchestra
Doctoral Dissertation: Recent Music of Joseph Schwantner: Unique and Essential Aspects
Master of Music in Composition and Theory, Memphis University, 1980
Composition Teacher: Donald Freund
Bachelor of Music in Composition and Theory, Eastman School of Music, 1979
Composition Teachers: Joseph Schwantner, Samuel Adler, and Warren Benson
MUSIC AND MEDIA
Composer / Sound Designer / Arranger, (1979-present)
Studio Composer – works for string quartet, orchestra, and other ensembles
Composed electronic sound scores for 50+ computer games, reaching 18 million+ consumers
Scored music for video, film, slide shows, and live performers, reaching art audiences
Orchestrated, collaborated, and produced digital performances for dancers, visual artists, and sculptors
TEACHING
Guest Presenter, Brandeis University, Towson University, UMBC, E3, CES, (2000-2006)
On the art, creativity, and experience of interactive entertainment
Instructor, Maryland Institute, College of Art, Department of Liberal Arts, (1991-98)
Course: Music in the 20th Century
Studio Teacher, Illinois, NYC, Baltimore, (1980-1996)
Private Instruction in Composition, arranging, piano
Teaching Assistant, University of Illinois, Department of Music, (1980-84)
Courses Taught: Music Theory I and II, 20th Century Musical Theory
Finalist, Award to graduate assistant for excellence in undergraduate teaching
MEDIA, MULTI-MEDIA, AND TECHNOLOGY
Founder, President, and CEO, (1996-06)
Firaxis Games, Baltimore
Established and led world-class multi-media development studio
Released 12 products
Reached 15+ million consumers
Received over 100 awards, domestic and international
Ernst and Young Technology Entrepreneur of the Year
CEO of the Year, SmartCEO Magazine
Leveraged sale of Firaxis Games to Take Two Interactive
Director, Exec Producer, Producer, Designer, Composer, Writer, Editor, (1985-96)
MicroProse Entertainment Software, Baltimore
Led global developer/publisher as designer/producer/composer
Awarded US Patent for 3DO program that composed in style of JS Bach
West End Games, NYC
Spearheaded research and development for leading historical simulation company
COMPOSITIONS
Orchestral Music
Two Poems of Hyam Plutzik (with orator), 2011
Celebration for Orchestra, 2008
Fanfare for Civilization (for Aaron), 2006
Comets, 1980
Moria, 1979
Chamber Music
The (New) Beethoven String Quartets (from the Piano Sonatas), 2016
Adjectives (arranged for String Quartet), 2016
Luck of the Draught – Duo for Violin and Cello, 2014
4th String Quartet – for The Amernet, 2013
3rd String Quartet, 2011
Solitude: Two pieces for String Quartet, 2006
Stars and Trees for tape, 2005
Liner, 2004
Random Moments, 1995
Dance Triptych: Ecliptic, Silk, Celebration, 1988
Firaxis, for mixed ensemble and percussion, 1984
Topaz, for synthesized tape, 1979
Adjectives: 13 little words for wind quartet, 1979
Block Concrete (percussion ensemble), 1978
Natural Well, for clarinet, 1978
Neversink, for flute, 1977
Clarinet Duo, five movements for two clarinets, 1976
A Song of Songs, for soprano, harp, celesta, and string quartet, 1976
2nd String Quartet, 1976
Music for Columns and Strings, 1975
1st String Quartet, 1975
Events for Strings and Winds, 1974
Music for String and Winds, 1974
Music for Winds and Percussion, 1973
Patterns for Brass Sextet, 1973
Woodwind Quintet, 1972
Piano Music
Aurora, for two pianos, 1984
Chimera, three pieces for piano, 1982
Three Little Pieces, for piano, 1973
Songs
Tickletoby and Friends, Three Children’s Poems by Hyam Plutzik, 1986
A Song of Songs, for Soprano and piano, Text by Solomon, 1980
The White Rose, for soprano and piano, Text by John Boyle O’Reilly, 1978
Electronic Music for Film and Video
Beyond Glory, a documentary with Ramsey Clark et al, 1993
Descending – an animated short with Jackie Ross, 1994
Electronic Music for Computer Games
Civilization IV: Warlords, 2006
Civilization IV, 2005
Pirates! Xbox, 2005
Pirates!, 2004
Civilization III Complete, 2003
Civilization III: Conquests, 2003
Alpha Centauri Planetary Pack, 2000
Alien Crossfire, 1999
Alpha Centauri, 1999
Antietam!, 1998
Magic: The Gathering, 1997
Gettysburg!, 1997
Civilization II, 1996
CivNet, 1995
Colonization, 1994
F-15 Strike Eagle III, 1993
Return of the Phantom, 1993
Pirates! Gold, 1993
The Ancient Art of War in the Skies, 1992
Darklands, 1992
Rex Nebular and the Cosmic Gender Bender, 1992
Gunship 2000, 1991
Hyperspeed, 1991
Night Hawk: F-117A Stealth Fighter 2.0, 1991
Sid Meier's Civilization, 1991
Knights of the Sky, 1990
Lightspeed, 1990
Railroad Tycoon, 1990
Covert Action, 1990
Silent Service II, 1990
M1 Tank Platoon, 1989
Sword of the Samurai, 1989
PERFORMANCES
Acoustic Music
1st String quartet 07-1974 Sewanee Summer Music Festival
Music for Strings and Winds 12-1975 Student Ensemble, Eastman School of Music
2nd String quartet 10-1975 Student Ensemble, Eastman School of Music
Music for Columns and Strings 04-1976 New Music Ensemble, Eastman School
Clarinet Duo 10-1976 Student Recital, Eastman School of Music
Neversink 10-1977 Student Recital, Eastman School of Music
The White Rose 04-1978 Student Recital, Eastman School of Music
Natural Well 10-1978 Student Recital, Eastman School of Music
Clarinet Duo 02-1979 CIM Symposium, Cleveland Institute of Music
Block Concrete 04-1979 Percussion ensemble, Eastman School of Music
Moria 10-1979 Memphis University Orchestra
Adjectives 11-1979 Faculty winds, University of Memphis
Adjectives 01-1980 Memphis Public Library, New Music Series
Adjectives 02-1980 ASUC National Conference, University of Memphis
Adjectives 11-1981 Faculty Wind Quartet, Krannert Center for the Arts, Illinois
Aurora 02-1982 Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Illinois
Aurora 04-1982 Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, Northwestern University
Neversink 10-1982 Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Illinois
Chimera 05-1983 Warrensburg Artist in Residence Recital, Illinois
Aurora 05-1983 Michiana New Music Ensemble, Saint Mary’s College
Comets 12-1982 Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, Northwestern University
Chimera 11-1983 Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Illinois
Adjectives 11-1983 ASUC regional Conference, Iowa State University
Firaxis 03-1984 Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Illinois
Comets 05-1985 Little Orchestra, Avery-Fisher Hall @ Lincoln Center, NYC
Chimera 02-1984 New Music Festival XI, University of Memphis
Ecliptic/Celebration 06-1986 Centre Pompidou, Paris, France
Dance Triptych 11-1986 American Music and Dance, Columbia University
Two Love Songs 03-1987 Christ and St. Stephen’s Church, NYC
Tickletoby and Friends 05-1987 Welles Brown Room, University of Rochester, NY
Dance Triptych 07-1987 Lumin Winter Gallery, New Rochelle Public Library
Dance Triptych 02-1988 House on Fire, Ethnic Folk Arts Center, NYC
Celebration 05-2009 Westfield Symphony, David Wroe, Conduction, New Jersey
Ecliptic for Marimba 03-2010 Vortex Percussion Ensemble, Vanderbilt University
Ecliptic for Marimba 03-2011 Vortex Percussion Ensemble, Vanderbilt University
Luck of the Draught 06-2014 Jason Calloway, Cello and Mari-Liis Pakk, Violin - Estonia
3rd String Quartet 02-2015The Amernet Quartet, Miami Beach Urban Studios @ FIU
Luck of the Draught 04-2015 Jason Calloway, Cello and Mari-Liis Pakk, Violin @ FIU
4th String Quartet 04-2015 The Amernet Quartet, Carl Fisher Club House, SOBE Arts
4th String Quartet 04-2014 The Amernet Quartet, The Betsy Hotel, Miami Beach
4th String Quartet 08-2014 The Amernet Quartet, BargeMusic, NYC
(New) Beethoven 03-2015 The Amernet Quartet, The Betsy Hotel, Miami Beach
Adjectives for Strings 03-2016 The Amernet Quartet, Miami New Music Festival @ FIU
2 Poems of Hyam Plutzik 07-2016 Miami Music Festival, New World Symphony Center
(New) Beethoven 08-2016 The Amernet Quaret, Martha's Vineyard Chamber Music
(New) Beethoven 11-2016 The Conservatory at The Betsy Hotel, Concert 1 of 10
(New) Beethoven 02-2017 The Amernet Quartet, Chamber Music Society of Fort Worth
(New) Beethoven 02-2017 The Amernet Quartet, The Conservatory at The Betsy Hotel, Concert 2
(New) Beethoven 03-2017 The Amernet Quartet, Miami Beach Community Church, Concert 3
JLBriggs’ New Music 07/2017 Various performers, Venues TBD, in Miami and Baltimore
(New) Beethoven 10-2017 The Amernet Quartet, The Conservatory at The Betsy Hotel, Concert 4
(New) Beethoven 11-2017 The Amernet Quartet, Miami Beach Community Church, Concert 5
(New) Beethoven 02-2018 The Amernet Quatet, The Conservatory at The Betsy Hotel, Concert 6
(New) Beethoven 03-2018 The Amernet Quartet, Miami Beach Community Church, Concert 7
(New) Beethoven 10-2018 The Amernet Quartet, The Conservatory at The Betsy Hotel, Concert 8
(New) Beethoven 11-2018 The Amernet Quartet, Miami Beach Community Church, Concert 9
(New) Beethoven Finale 01-2019 The Amernet Quartet, The Conservatory at The Betsy Hotel, Concert 10
DIGITAL
Game Music Many millions of listeners have been reached with 30+ hours of music. Film Music documentary, infomercials, video shorts, animated short. Screenings: Maryland Institute, CalArts, among many others.
HONORS AND AWARDS
Music
International Music Prize for Excellence in Composition, 2011
National Academy of Music for Celebration and 3rd String Quartet
Finalist for International Music Prize for Excellence in Composition, 2011
for Ecliptic -3 pieces for Marimba Quartet and Two Poems of Hyam Plutzik
Civilization IV Soundtrack, Limited Edition Release (50,000 sold), 2005
Best Music, GameSpy Honorable Mention (CIV IV), 2005
MacDowell Colony Fellowship, 1986
Meet the Composer Grant, 1987
ASCAP Award for Young Composers, 1984
Campus Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, U of Illinois, 1984
ASCAP Foundation Grant, 1984
Artist Grant, Illinois Arts Council, 1984
Composition Scholarship, University of Illinois, 1980-84
Haimsohm Prize for Composition, Memphis State University, 1980
Sernoffsky Prize in Composition, Eastman School of Music, 1977
Representative of Eastman School at CIM Symposium, 1977
Composition Scholarship, Eastman school of Music, 1975
Entrepreneurship
Asper Award for Global Entrepreneurship, Brandeis University, 2006
Future 50 Award, SmartCEO Magazine, 2005
Ernst and Young, Mid-Atlantic Software Technology Entrepreneur, 2005
CEO of the Year, SmartCEO Magazine, 2004
Software Design/Development (selected)
Civilization IV; PC Game of the Year, Scripps Howard News Service 2005
Pirates! (Xbox), Best Adventure Game of E3, IGN 2005
Pirates! PC, Historical Game of the Year, Compute Magazine 2004
SimGolf, Editor’s Choice, Computer Gaming World 2002
Civilization III, Critic’s Pick, Time Magazine 2001
Civilization III, Strategy Game of the Year 2001
Alpha Centauri, Game of the Year, Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences 1999
Antietam!, War Game of the Year, Computer Gaming World 1999
Gettysburg!, War Game of the Year, Strategy Plus Magazine 1999
Civilization II, Best Game, British Interactive Media Association 1996
Patents
System for real-time music composition and synthesis US Patent 5496962 (Jeff Briggs/Sid Meier)
A system for automatically generating compositions on demand without duplication that can produce compositions upon demand in a variety of genres and forms so that concerts based on generated compositions will have a varied mix of pieces incorporated therein. The system incorporates a "weighted exhaustive search" process that is used to analyze the various aspects in developing the composition, from small-scale, note-to-note melodic construction to large-scale harmonic motions. The process maintains a balance between melodic, harmonic and contrapuntal elements in developing the composition. In general, the "weighted exhaustive search" process involves generating a plurality of solutions for producing each element of the composition.
Publication/Presentations
The History of Games, and the emergence of Civilization, presented at Brandeis University (2006)
Sourcebooks, for historical documentation and content reference, published under the auspices of West End Games, (1985-88)
Festival of Music Activities Handbook, Funded by the National Endowment for the Arts (1985)
A Short Survey of Music, Commissioned and published by Project HEART, Decatur, Illinois (1984)
Selected Press
"Brigg’s three-movement piece (4th Quartet) is attractive and subtly ambitious. It opened with set of hushed, rocking sonorities, swaying in counterpoint to the barge itself in the East River currents. There is a short violin line that reaches gracefully for the sky. The composing has the intriguing quality of being built out of tiny units that are parts of different eras in the string quartet literature, like two-beat classical rhythms, and groups of four sixteenth notes. The music doesn’t develop so much as explore its own antecedents. The short second movement is a Stephen Foster-esque country blues, the finale an intricate machine of offset, rhythmic, interlocking parts. The medium tempo was ideal, making it easy to hear how each bit of the machine worked together to build a substantial, weighty whole…" - NewYorkClassicalReview.com
“In Aurora for Piano, for four hands, Jeff Briggs… has written a nicely paced minimalistic miniature...” - South Bend Tribune
“ I must bow to the Civilization IV sound track. It is literally a piece of art..” - SoftPedia
"... (Civ IV’s) … original score packs an emotional wallop …." - LA Times
"I can't say enough about the excellent soundtrack..." - Associated Press
"From the early bleeps and bloops of Pong … to the sophisticated compositions found in … Civilization IV … the performers synchronized their music to projected video images." - Washington Post
"...the music really steals the show." - IGN
"Musically Civ IV stands out, with original pieces … rubbing shoulders with Bach, Mozart and Beethoven." - Silicon-Fusion.com
"...the soundtrack in Civilization IV is one of the most soothing, fulfilling and fitting I have heard in a video game yet." - ActionTrip
"Special mention must be made about the first thing you encounter in Civilization IV, its wonderful music. Right from the moment the menu screen loads up the player is treated to an array of evocative and wonderfully arranged melodies." – Ferrago (Italy)
“(CPU BACH)… is one of the most sophisticated pieces of pure artificial intelligence ever created, both technically and conceptually. What CPU Bach does is to compose pieces of Bach-style music, based on the parameters that you set. The music can be as detailed as the Brandenburg Concertos, or simple, clean, and sparse, depending on how many virtual instruments you choose to use. It's almost like having the ghost of Bach sitting in your living room, furtively cranking out all of the music he was unable to finish in his lifetime.” - CIV FANATICS
“And Colonization music… I can listen to it without the game.” - Mirsoft.com
“Dr. Jeffery Briggs, MicroProse's "composer in residence," is the brain behind the music.” - Eskimo.com