THE RESONANCE ATLAS
Rieteke Hölscher
Biography
Rieteke Hölscher (born 1969) is a Dutch composer and pianist whose work bridges contemporary music, education and other art forms. She studied classical and jazz piano at the Hilversum Conservatory, graduating in 1992, before returning to formal study in composition at Utrecht Conservatory, where she completed a master's degree in 2016 with Caroline Ansink and Jeroen D'hoe.
Her compositions range from chamber music and choral writing to multimedia projects, including Disturbing Light for live music, tape and video, and Keystones for dance and ensemble. Her interest in the bassoon is particularly notable: she was recognised in the 2015 Save the Bassoon competition and wrote Flarden (Fragments) for sixteen bassoonists, premiered at the Bassoons for Future festival in Maastricht in 2021. Her music is published by Donemus and has been performed by artists and ensembles including Bram van Sambeek and the Netherlands Radio Choir.
Why this music interests us
Hölscher's bassoon writing ranges from compact chamber works to unusually large ensembles. Juggling (2024), a two-minute reed quintet for oboe or cor anglais, clarinet, alto saxophone, bass clarinet and bassoon, is an inviting example of her playful approach to instrumental colour. Just a Note (2024) is a miniature for bassoon quartet, while Zuurstof (Oxygen, 2021) explores bassoon and piano with alternative versions for contrabassoon and for Baroque bassoon. At the other extreme, Flarden (Fragments) brings together sixteen bassoonists. The variety is a reminder of how much inventive music can be written around a single instrumental family.
Selected works & listening
Juggling (2024; reed quintet); Just a Note (2024; bassoon quartet); Zuurstof / Oxygen (2021; bassoon and piano, with alternative versions); Flarden / Fragments (2021; 16 bassoons); Lifebelt (instrumentation to verify)
Further information