List of works

Stage Works

Jardín de la Muerte (2021-22)

a song cycle for the stage

mezzo-soprano, tenor, alto saxophone, violin, cello, percussion (1 player)

poems by Maritza Núñez (in Spanish)

Duration: 55'

Orchestral Music

Divertimento (1996)

symphonic wind band

piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, clarinet in es, 4 clarinets in b, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, 2 alto saxophones, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, 4 french horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, euphonium, tuba, contrabass, percussion (4-5 players)

Commissioned by Akateeminen puhallinorkesteri (The Academic Wind Band of Helsinki University)

I. Allegretto, II. Romanza, III. Tempo di menuetto, IV. Alla marcia

Duration: 14’

FP: Akateeminen puhallinorkesteri, Kalervo Kulmala, Seinäjoki 20.3.1999

Publisher: Edition Tilli

Purgatory Triptych (1999/2012)

2(+picc.)22(+bcl.)2/4230/12/strings

The main prize in the Kuopio National Composition Contest 1999

I. Prelude, II. Toccata, III. Passacaglia

Duration: 28’

FP (first version): Kuopio City Orchestra, Atso Almila, Kuopio 4.5.2000

Petite suite baroque (2000)

string orchestra

I. Gavotte, II. Sarabande, III. Gigue

Duration: 8’

FP: St. Michel Strings, Ari Angervo, Helsinki 4.4.2000

Zwielicht (2017-2018)

222(+bcl.)2/2100/12/celesta/strings

Duration: 17'

Variations on a Theme by Mozart (2018-2019)

1222/2100/01/strings

Duration: 25'

Symphony for Strings (2023)

Duration: 24'

Instrumental Solo and Orchestra

Concerto for French Horn (2000)

french horn solo + percussion (1 player), strings

Commissioned by Tero Toivonen

Duration: 20’

FP: Tero Toivonen, Avanti!, Jani Telaranta, Helsinki 1.2.2004

Concerto for Saxophone (2005-2006)

alto/soprano saxophone solo + percussion (1 player), piano, strings

Commissioned by Olli-Pekka Tuomisalo

I. Canto, II. Cadenza, III. Capriccio

Duration: 18’

FP: Olli-Pekka Tuomisalo, Hämeenlinna City Orchestra, Tuomas Rousi, Hämeenlinna 14.11.2006

Recording: Ballade-Finnish Saxophone Concertos Volume 3. Olli-Pekka Tuomisalo, A chamber orchestra, Sasha Mäkilä. OPTCD-09006 (2009)

Concerto for Violin and String Orchestra (2022)

violin solo + strings

I. Andante, II. Allegro tenebroso, III. Adagio, IV. Andante-Allegro

Duration 40'

Vocal Solo and Orchestra

Fyra dikter av Edith Södergran (2019)

mezzo-soprano + 22(+cor anglais)22/2110/12/harp/piano(+celesta)/strings

I. Vad är mitt hemland? II. Orfeus, III. Beslut, IV. Hemkomst

Duration: 12'

Chamber Music

Introduzione e scherzo (1992)

violin and piano

Duration: 10’

FP: Antti Elomaa & Pia Henriksson, Helsinki 6.3.1993

Pezzo Concertante (1998)

alto saxophone and piano

Commissioned by Olli-Pekka Tuomisalo

Duration: 8’50’’

FP: Olli-Pekka Tuomisalo & Risto-Matti Marin, Espoo 25.11.1998

Recording: Kevättuulahdus / A Breath of Spring. Olli-Pekka Tuomisalo & Risto Matti Marin. OPTCD-01003-4 (2000)

Publisher: Edition Tilli

Saxophone Quartet (1999)

Commissioned by Akateeminen saksofonikvartetti (The Academic Saxophone Quartet)

I. Modo di sonata, II. Marcia fantastico, III. Finale brioso

Duration: 12’

FP: Akateeminen saksofonikvartetto, Riihimäki 23.1.2000

Recording: Finnish Saxophone Quartets. Akateeminen saksofonikvartetti. OPTCD-10007-8 (2010)

Printed score available: Edition Tilli

String Quartet No. 1 (2002/2013)

I. Adagio non troppo, II. Vivace, III. Allegretto, IV. Allegro agitato, V. Adagio non troppo

The first prize in the chamber music work category of the Kuopio National Composition Contest 2002

Duration: 23’

FP (first version): Savo-kvartetti, Kuopio 2.10.2003

String Quartet No. 2 (2006/2020)

I. Adagio- Allegro, II. Tema con variazioni

Duration: 28'

Götterdämmerung (2008)

A tribute to Rammstein

alto saxophone and piano

Commissioned by the duo Metallifonia

Duration: 8’

FP: Metallifonia (Olli-Pekka Tuomisalo & Risto-Matti Marin), Tampere 5.2.2009

Score available at MusicFinland

String Quartet No. 3 (2009-2010)

I. Allegro con fuoco, II. Adagio-Doppio movimento-Adagio, III. Allegro vivace

Duration: 20’

FP: AND ensemble (Annemarie Åström, Paula Nykänen, Tiila Kangas & Tomas Nuñez-Garcés),

Helsinki 5.4.2011

String Quartet No. 4 (2012)

I. Molto adagio, II. Allegretto ed inquieto, III. Adagio

Duration: 22'

FP 2025 in preparation

Zugzwang (2015)

accordion and guitar

Commissioned by Matti Pulkki & Jonne Grans

Duration: 12'

FP Matti Pulkki & Jonne Grans, Helsinki 26.5.2016

String Quartet No. 5 (2015-16)

I. Andante comodo, II. Vivace, III. Adagio, IV. Allegretto con grazia

Duration: 33'

Sonata for Violin and Piano (2016-17)

I. Allegro appassionato, II. Largo, III. Allegretto con spirito

Duration: 24'

FP Annemarie Åström & Annika Palm, Helsinki 24.10.2021

String Quartet No. 6 (2021)

I. Allegro piacevole, II. Adagio, III. Allegro risoluto

Duration: 22'

Sonata for Cello and Piano (2023-24)

I. Adagio-Moderato, II. Largo, III. Allegretto

Duration: 25'

Solo Works

Three Preludes (2000/2017)

piano

I. Adagio, II. Presto, III. Rubato, con delicatezza

Duration: 4'

FP: Laura Heikkilä, Helsinki 28.10.2013

Score available at MusicFinland

Adagietto (2001/2010)

organ

Duration: 3’

FP (first version): Svante Forsman, Siuntio 18.8.2001

Score available at MusicFinland

Sonatina No 1 (2002)

piano

I. Allegretto, II. Larghetto, III. Allegretto

Duration: 8’

FP: Risto-Matti Marin, Mänttä 30.6.2005

Score available at MusicFinland

Sherlock's Violin (2002)

solo violin

The first prize in the solo violin work category of the Kuopio National Composition Contest 2002

Duration: 10’

FP: Teemu Tuominen, Kuopio 2.10.2003

Score available at MusicFinland

Sonatina No, 2 (2005)

piano

I. Andante, II. Allegro con brio

Duration: 6’

FP: Laura Heikkilä, Tarttu 5.2.2013

Bagatelles (2011)

piano

I. Walls, II. Courage, III. The Cat, IV. Grief, V. The Garden, VI. In the Dark, VII. Snow

Duration: 7’

FP: Laura Heikkilä, Helsinki 4.11.2013

Score available at MusicFinland

Transparent Things (2019)

suite for piano

I. Tranquillo, II. Allegro con brio, III. Andante, IV. Andantino, V. Allegro giocoso, VI. Andante soave, VII, Con spirito, VIII. Largo, IX. Vivace, X. Epilogue (Sognando).

Duration: 26''

Syldavian Dances (2020)

piano

I. Vivo, II. Adagio, III. Andantino quasi allegretto, IV. Larghetto, V. Allegretto

Duration: 12’ 30’'

The September Lyre (2020)

piano

Duration: 7'

FP Ere Lievonen, Amsterdam 26.6.2021

The Dark's Spinets (2021)

harpsichord

Duration: 7'

FP Ere Lievonen, Aalborg 9.11.2021

Nothing But the Embittered Sun (2022)

piano

Duration: 12'

Like a River Unafraid (2023-24)

suite for organ

commissioned by Ere Lievonen

Duration 18'30''

Voice and Ensemble

Kanske är älska ingenting (2021)

mezzo-soprano, cello and piano

Commissioned by Marika Kivinen

Words by Märta Tikkanen (In Swedish)

Duration: 7'30''

FP Marika Kivinen, Iiris Tötterström & Jenna Ristilä, Helsinki 25.3.2023

Diptico (2022)

mezzo-soprano, alto saxophone, cello and piano

Commissioned by Marika Kivinen

Poems by Maritza Núñez (In Spanish)

I. Retornoser, II. rusakko

Duration: 10'

FP in preparation

Voice and Piano

The Fool's Songs from Twelfth Night (1993)

medium / high voice and piano

Poems by William Shakespeare (in English)

I. O Mistress Mine, II. Come Away Death, III. When That I Was And a Little Tiny Boy

Duration: 7'30''

FP: Petter Loukio & Eeva Tapanen, Helsinki 25.2.2024

Recording: Petteri Loukio & Eeva Tapanen. Christian Holmqvist: Songs. RRCD 003. (2024)

Score available at MusicFinland

Kaksi Uuno Kailaan runoa (1994)

medium voice and piano

Poems by Uuno Kailas (in Finnish)

I. Sumu, II. Hollantilainen

Duration: 12'

Fyra dikter av Edith Södergran (2002)

high voice and piano

Poems by Edith Södergran (in Swedish)

I. Vad är mitt hemland?, II. Orfeus, III. Beslut, IV. Hemkomst

Duration: 12’

FP: Marika Kivinen & Eeva Tapanen, Helsinki 16.3.2011

Recording: Marika Kivinen & Jenna Ristilä. Christian Holmqvist: Songs. RRCD 003. (2024)

Publisher: Edition Tilli

see also works for vocal solo and orchestra

Three Sonnets of Shakespeare (2003-2004)

medium / high voice and piano

Poems by William Shakespeare (in English)

I. Sonnet 12 (When I do count the Clock), II. Sonnet 19 (Devouring Time), Sonnet 76 (Why is my verse so barren of new pride?)

Duration: 10'

FP: Marika Kivinen & Laura Heikkilä, Turku 12.5.2008

Score available at MusicFinland

Drei Sonette an Orpheus (2007)

medium voice and piano

Poems by Rainer Maria Rilke (in German)

I. Sei allem Abschied voran, II. Errichtet keinen Denkstein, III. Giebt es wirklich die Zeit, die zerstörende?

Duration: 8’

FP: Marika Kivinen & Laura Heikkilä, Helsinki 28.10.2013

Score available at MusicFinland

Five Children’s Poems (2009)

easy songs for amateurs; medium voice and piano

Poems by Christina Rossetti (in English)

I. What does the Bee do?, II. How many Seconds in a Minute?, III. If I were a Queen, IV. Who has seen the Wind?, V. If a Pig wore a Wig

Duration: 9’

FP: students at the Vantaan musiikkiopisto & Asta Onnila, Vantaa 21.3.2015

O notte, o dolce tempo (2014)

mezzo-soprano and piano

Commissioned by Marika Kivinen

Poem by Michelangelo Buonarroti (in Italian)

Duration: 3’50’’

FP Marika Kivinen & Laura Heikkilä, Helsinki 8.9.2014

Recording: Marika Kivinen & Jenna Ristilä. Christian Holmqvist: Songs. RRCD 003. (2024)

Score available at MusicFinland

Fem dikter av Jarl Hemmer (2015)

mezzo-soprano and piano

Poems by Jarl Hemmer (in Swedish)

I. På nattgammal is, II. Den främmande fågeln, III. Akvarell, IV. Bön, V. Över dunklet.

Duration: 20'

FP Marika Kivinen & Asta Onnila, Helsinki 22.5.2016

Recording: Marika Kivinen & Jenna Ristilä. Christian Holmqvist: Songs. RRCD 003. (2024)

Score available at MusicFinland

Denna stora tomhet (2017)

song cycle for tenor and piano

Poems by Henry Parland (in Swedish)

I Ingenstansifrån, II. Vid mina fingrar, III .Varifrån fan, IV. Den stora Dagenefter, V. Denna stora tomhet.

Duration: 12'

FP Petteri Loukio & Eeva Tapanen, Helsinki 25.2.2024

Recording: Petteri Loukio & Eeva Tapanen. Christian Holmqvist: Songs. RRCD 003. (2024)

På moln stod du! (2017)

bass-baritone (or bass) and piano

Poem by J. J. Wecksell (in Swedish)

Duration: 6´

Score available at MusicFinland

I Have Desired To Go (2020)

medium voice and piano

Poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins (in English)

Duration: 2'30''

FP Marika Kivinen & Jenna Ristilä, Kustavi 17.7.2022

Recording: Marika Kivinen & Jenna Ristilä. Christian Holmqvist: Songs. RRCD 003. (2024)

Pain (2022)

baritone and piano

Poem by Ivor Gurney (in English)

Duration: 4'

La tragedia é commedia (2022-23)

tenor and piano

Poem by Petteri Loukio (in Italian)

Duration: 5'30''

Barkarola (2024)

tenor and piano

Poem by Friedrich Nietzsche (in German)

Duration: 5'

FP in preparation

Choral Works

O min luta! (2005//2017)

male choir

Poem by Zacharias Topelius (in Swedish)

Commissioned by the male choir Frihetsbröderna

Duration: 2’50’'

FP (first version) Frihetsbröderna, Markus Nordström, Helsinki 5.12.2005

Score available at MusicFinland

Dickinson Suite (2013)

mixed choir

Poems by Emily Dickinson (in English)

1. I reason, earth is short, 2. I never felt at home below, 3. I have no life but this, 4. ”Heavenly Father”, take to thee, 5. Under the light yet under, 6. Though the great waters sleep

Duration: 13'

Score available at MusicFinland

Nocturne (2014)

male choir

Poem by Edith Södergran (in Swedish)

Commissioned by the male choir Frihetsbröderna

Duration: 3'50''

FP: Frihetsbröderna, John Emanuelsson, Helsinki 11.4.2015

Score available at MusicFinland

Oktober (2018)

male choir

Poem by Kurt Högnäs (in Swedish)

Duration: 2'30''

FP: Kristinestads Manskör, Anders Teir, Kristinestad 17.11.2018

Snö och månljus (2020)

male choir

Poem by Jarl Hemmer (in Swedish)

Third prize in The Runebergskören BSB's Choral Composition Contest 2021

Duration 3'30''

FP: Runebergskören BSB, Teppo Salakka, Porvoo 7.10.2023

Vier Gedichte von Georg Trakl (2021)

mixed choir

1. Die Sonne, 2. Der Schatten, 3. Nachtlied, 4. Einklang

Poems by Georg Trakl (in German)

Duration: 12'

FP Tampere Cappella, Markus Yli-Jokipii, Tampere 17.9.2022

Moments of Vision (2022)

male choir

Poem by Thomas Hardy (in English)

Duration 4'

Göken och näktergalen (2025)

a fable for male choir

Poem by Bengt Lidner (in Swedish)

Commissioned by the male choir Frihetsbröderna

FP Frihetsbröderna, Jan C. Westerlund, Helsinki 25.10.2025

Arrangements, transcriptions

Cotton Fields

Huddie Ledbetters song arranged for male choir (2018)

Commissioned by the male choir Frihetsbröderna

Duration: 2´

FP: The male choir Frihetsbröderna, Jan C. Westerlund, Espoo 20.10.2018

Trauerzug

transcription for orchestra of Robert Schumann's Nachtstück op 23:1 (2021)

2233/4231/03/strings

Duration: 6´

Six Finnish Folks Songs

arranged for medium voice and piano (2025)

Duration: 13´

List of works

​

Stage Works

​

Orchestral Music

Chamber Music

Voice and Ensemble

Voice and Piano

Choral Works