Mogens Winkel Holm

Mogens Winkel Holm studied orchestration at the Royal Danish Academy of Music with Jørgen Jersild and oboe with Mogens Steen Andreassen. Following this, he was assistant oboist with The Royal Orchestra and worked in the music department at the National Danish Radio. From 1965-1971 he was a reviewer for Politiken and Ekstra Bladet. He also held several positions in music organisations, including president of DUT (Danish Young Tone Artists) and of the Danish Composers’ Society for almost 20 years.

Winkel Holmhad a huge production in a wide range of genres. Together with his brother, the choreographer Eske Holm, he staged a large number of ballets, both at The Royal Danish Theatre and on Danish and Swedish television between 1964 and 1984. His passion for the oboe resulted, among other things, in his Ricercare (1966) for solo oboe and orchestra.

Though never an avant-gardist, Winkel Holm sought to fuse modern day techniques like serialism with a traditional sense of form. The result is often described as dramatic and very gestural. Somewhat paradoxically, his music can be experienced as a recorded improvisation, constructed on a pre-established framework.  

He has received several prizes including the Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen and Carl Nielsen Honorary Grant in 1977.