CHRISTIANHOLMQVIST

Christian Holmqvist is a musical pluralist who choose his tools in consideration of what he wants to express in the work at hand. His music combines a romantic emotionalism with classical structures 

and neoclassical pulsations. One may also find elements borrowed from the modern tradition. Recurring features are a juxtaposition of melodic lyricism and dramatic outbursts. 

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Holmqvist acknowledge especially Beethoven, Schumann, Brahms, Mahler, Debussy, Scriabin, Shostakovich, Einar Englund and Einojuhani Rautavaara as important to his development as a composer. In some works may be heard influences of popular music and jazz. 

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Holmqvist is mainly known for his many vocal works (song cycles and choral works) and has because of them been called "The Finnish Hugo Wolf". But he has also written 6 string quartets, a violin sonata and other chamber music, as also music for solo piano including 2 sonatinas and the piece The September Lyre. Of orchestral works may be mentioned the Divertimento for wind band and the Petite Suite Baroque for strings. 

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