DCV 606 – Rieteke Hölscher: Tales of a Pilgrimage: Selected Movements

Rieteke Hölscher (1969) is a Dutch composer and pianist. She studied piano both classical and jazz at the Hilversum (1992) and composition (2016) at the Utrecht Conservatory.

As a composer, Rieteke Hölscher is always looking for new connections, often combining contemporary music with education or different art forms. In 2018 she created 'Il Cibo per La Musica' for Youth Orchestra Bloembollenstreek, and in 2019 the project 'Disturbing Light', a composition for tape, live music and art video, performed by her own ensemble Cross Meeting. She also wrote 'Flarden' for sixteen bassoonists, which premiered in October 2021 - performed by a mix of (advanced) amateurs, conservatory students and professionals - during the international bassoon festival Bassoons for Future in Maastricht.
Her work is performed at home and abroad by renowned musicians such as the Groot Omroepkoor; the Utrecht Student Cantorij; Marcel Worms and Bram van Sambeek.

In her compositions Hölscher aims to achieve an unique sound with great accessibility, with the ideal to bridge the gap between music history, contemporary music and the audience. Her colorful music is best described as straight and emotional with lyrical melodic lines, attention for timbre and an original use of extended techniques. Rieteke has also a strong commitment to both audience and performers without making creative concessions.