Niels  Rønsholdt
Kåre Viemose

Niels Rønsholdt

(1978-)

Niels Rønsholdt (b.1978) has strong roots in Aarhus, where he grew up and was educated. He received his professional training at the Royal Academy of Music with Karl Aage Rasmussen and Bent Sørensen, and in Berlin with Helmut Oehring. He still lives in Aarhus today, but his music is by no means parochial: it bears his own distinctive imprint.

In recent years, Rønsholdt has described his approach towards what he calls ‘method composing’. As with actors’ ‘method acting’, the composer finds his inspiration in close study, not of a particular human character but of a specific musical genre or style which he makes his own. He familiarizes himself with the chosen genre through a process in which he studies its ‘authentic’ traits, for example the pathos and melancholy of a French chanson (Me Quitte, 2014), the transparency, action and drama in a Baroque recitative (Ord for Ord, 2014), the virtuosic and picturesque in a romantic piano composition (Archive of Emotions and Experiences, 2019), the nationalistic and national romantic in a symphonic work (Civilizations, 2017), and the popular and sentimental in country music (as for example in Country, 2019-20).

Rønsholdt uses his study of the chosen genres as a starting point for his scores, including their dramaturgic aspirations and theatrical stagings. In his music and when writing for the stage, the genre being employed not only sits beneath the work but is also alienating: for example Country substitutes a cello, played sideways like a guitar, for that iconic instrument, and its masculine, emotive singing style is contrasted with synthesised and non-binary voices. In Me Quitte and Ord for Ord, the composer himself acts as crooner and first lover. This creates a double meaning which gives the works both presence and feeling, while at the same time providing an unconventional role for the composer.

Contrast, reflection and fracture are especially significant in Rønsholdt’s compositions. The music’s genres are recognisable, but they progress through concepts which lead both the music and the public onto uncertain ground. Wonder and curiosity are central players in our experience of the scenarios which are carefully built up, in a sensuous and intense atmosphere corresponding to a real sense of embodiment, with whip-cracks and hefty chord progressions.

Rønsholdt has worked with the Danish ensemble SCENATET on a great many of his projects, with works commissioned by a number of international ensembles who perform them around Europe. Rønsholdt is a prizewinning composer and the recipient of stipends, including from the Academy for Art in Berlin. He received a three year working grant from the Danish Arts Foundation. As well as his work as a composer, he is a lecturer at the Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus and is active on a number of important boards in Danish musical life.

Written by Sanne Krogh Groth and translated by Colin Roth.

Available Works

All categories Solo 2-6 Instruments 7+ Instruments Choir Orchestra Music Drama and Stage Music Educational Music Other

  1. Den sidste olie

    2022 • Niels Rønsholdt

    Music Drama and Stage Music

    55 minutes

    Eh, cl, bsn, 2hrn, tr, trb, 2perc, pno, vl, db & S, Ct, Mezz, Bar

  2. Centalog

    2021 • Niels Rønsholdt

    2-6 Instruments

    45 minutes

    String Quartet

  3. Civilizations (version for sinfonietta)

    2017 • Niels Rønsholdt

    7+ Instruments

    23 minutes

    1.1.1.1/1.1.1.0/perc/hrp/pno/1.1.1.1.1 + speaker, sample playback, and choir

  4. Breathless Moment

    2016 • Niels Rønsholdt

    Other

    An interactive music-dramatic app for smartphone and tablet

  5. Etude

    2018 • Niels Rønsholdt

    Educational Music

    Cello solo

  6. Archive of Emotions and Experiences, Book 2

    2019 • Niels Rønsholdt

    Solo

    40 minutes

    Prepared piano solo

  7. Archive of Emotions and Experiences, Book 1

    2019 • Niels Rønsholdt

    Solo

    40 minutes

    Piano solo

  8. Book of Prayers

    2019 • Niels Rønsholdt

    Choir

    42 minutes

    1.1.1.1/1.1.1/perc/pno/1.1.1.1.1 + Choir SATB w. soloists

  9. Until Nothing Left

    2017 • Niels Rønsholdt

    Solo

    25 minutes

    Accordion solo/performing accordionist, objects and audience

  10. Country – Parts 1 & 2

    2020 • Niels Rønsholdt

    Orchestra

    60 minutes

    1/AFL.1/EH.1/BCl.1/CBn - 1.1.1.0 - perc.pno - archi (quintet or ensemble) + speaker & cello solo

  11. Civilizations

    2017 • Niels Rønsholdt

    Orchestra

    23 minutes

    2.1.1.1/2.2.1.0/perc/hrp/pno/archi + speaker, Greenlandic choir & sample playback

  12. Gaze for Gaze

    2017 • Niels Rønsholdt

    Music Drama and Stage Music

    90 minutes

    Bass cl, trb, perc, pno, gui, vl, vla, vlc, 2 singers (male and female), 2 extras (male and female)

  13. Drink me, make me real

    2002 • Niels Rønsholdt

    2-6 Instruments

    7 minutes

    Alto saxophone, percussion & tape

  14. Exile

    2016 • Niels Rønsholdt

    2-6 Instruments

    20 minutes

    Female and (/or) male voice, piano and audio playback

  15. Wir I

    2005 • Niels Rønsholdt

    Solo

    8 minutes

    guitar and audio playback

  16. Shame

    2016 • Niels Rønsholdt

    2-6 Instruments

    19 minutes

    for amplified quartet (voice, alto saxophone, piano, percussion)

  17. Songs of Doubt

    2015 • Niels Rønsholdt

    Choir

    50 minutes

    Choir, male solo voice, and ondes martenot

  18. Gloomy Room

    2009 • Niels Rønsholdt

    Solo

    8 minutes

    Percussion Solo

  19. Al-Aqsa

    2008 • Niels Rønsholdt

    2-6 Instruments

    5 minutes

    Fl, ob, cl, hn

  20. Americana

    2013 • Niels Rønsholdt

    2-6 Instruments

    12 minutes

    String quartet

  21. Fear and loath in g minor

    2014 • Niels Rønsholdt

    2-6 Instruments

    12 minutes

    Fl, cl, vn, vlc, db, pno

  22. Me Quitte (version for orchestra)

    2014 • Niels Rønsholdt

    Orchestra

    35 minutes

    Fm voc, ma voc soli + 2.2.2.2/4.2.1.0/2 perc/pno/gui/el-gui/1.1.1.1.1

  23. The Merman (version for chamber orchestra)

    2013 • Niels Rønsholdt

    7+ Instruments

    16 minutes

    1.0.1(t-sax)1.0/0.0.1.0/ perc/pno/gui/1.0.1.1.0/live-elec

  24. The Merman

    2008 • Niels Rønsholdt

    7+ Instruments

    16 minutes

    0.1.2.1/1.0.0.0/perc/pno/2.2.2.2.0 + electronics, audio & video playback

  25. Me Quitte (full version)

    2013 • Niels Rønsholdt

    7+ Instruments

    45 minutes

    Female and male singers, pno, perc, gui, vl, vlc

  26. Burning

    2012 • Niels Rønsholdt

    2-6 Instruments

    10 minutes

    fl, vl, vlc, pno + film (optional electronics/audioplayback)

  27. Me Quitte

    2012 • Niels Rønsholdt

    7+ Instruments

    20 minutes

    Two singers, guitar, percussion & piano

  28. Die Wanderin

    2007 • Niels Rønsholdt

    2-6 Instruments

    10 minutes

    vl, pno, perc and audio playback

  29. Torso

    2007 • Niels Rønsholdt

    7+ Instruments

    9 minutes

    Female voice, clarinet and percussion

  30. Archeopteryx Dances

    2010 • Niels Rønsholdt

    2-6 Instruments

    10 minutes

    String trio

  31. Unter den Lidern

    2007 • Niels Rønsholdt

    2-6 Instruments

    13 minutes

    Offstage string quartet, audio playback, lights and video




Advanced works search

News

  1. Work Grants from the Danish Arts Foundation 2023

    nominations / awards

    Work Grants from the Danish Arts Foundation 2023

  2. Reumert nominations for Matias Vestergård and Niels Rønsholdt

    nominations / awards

    Reumert nominations for Matias Vestergård and Niels Rønsholdt

  3. Niels Rønsholdt: Den sidste olie video

    general

    Niels Rønsholdt: Den sidste olie video

  1. Niels Rønsholdt: 'Memoriam' World Premiere

    general

    Niels Rønsholdt: 'Memoriam' World Premiere

  2. New, ice-cold chamber opera about human exploitation

    general

    New, ice-cold chamber opera about human exploitation

  3. Great review of Rønsholdt's Archive

    reviews

    Great review of Rønsholdt's Archive

  4. SWR2 Jetztmusik highlights Rønsholdt and Steen-Andersen

    general

    SWR2 Jetztmusik highlights Rønsholdt and Steen-Andersen

  5. Praise for Rønsholdt

    reviews

    Praise for Rønsholdt

  6. Niels Rønsholdt Country Album

    releases

    Niels Rønsholdt Country Album

  7. Niels Rønsholdt Album Release

    releases

    Niels Rønsholdt Album Release

  8. Musikalske aftryk · Video teaser

    releases

    Musikalske aftryk · Video teaser

  9. String quartet in 100 movements by Rønsholdt

    releases

    String quartet in 100 movements by Rønsholdt

  10. Tjørnhøj & Rønsholdt nominated for Carl Prisen

    nominations / awards

    Tjørnhøj & Rønsholdt nominated for Carl Prisen

  11. Nordic Council Music Prize nominations

    nominations / awards

    Nordic Council Music Prize nominations

  12. Reviews · SPOR festival

    general

    Reviews · SPOR festival

  13. World Premieres · Rønsholdt, Nielsen, Black & Ernst at SPOR

    general

    World Premieres · Rønsholdt, Nielsen, Black & Ernst at SPOR

  14. Niels Rønsholdt nominated for the Nordic Council Music Prize 2020

    general

    Niels Rønsholdt nominated for the Nordic Council Music Prize 2020

  15. Rønsholdt piece at online concert by KLANG Festival and P2

    general

    Rønsholdt piece at online concert by KLANG Festival and P2

  16. Significant grants for Edition·S composers 2020

    general

    Significant grants for Edition·S composers 2020

  17. Niels Rønsholdt on 'Country' · SPOR Festival 2020

    general

    Niels Rønsholdt on 'Country' · SPOR Festival 2020

  18. Nordic Music Days 2019

    general

    Nordic Music Days 2019

  19. Reviews · Niels Rønsholdt · Book of Prayers

    general

    Reviews · Niels Rønsholdt · Book of Prayers

  20. Rønsholdt, Løffler, and Gísladóttir on Warsaw Autumn Festival

    general

    Rønsholdt, Løffler, and Gísladóttir on Warsaw Autumn Festival

  21. World premiere · Niels Rønsholdt · Book of Prayers

    general

    World premiere · Niels Rønsholdt · Book of Prayers

  22. Uropførelse · Niels Rønsholdt · Book of Prayers

    general

    Uropførelse · Niels Rønsholdt · Book of Prayers

  23. Praising words to Rønsholdt and Black in Seismograf

    general

    Praising words to Rønsholdt and Black in Seismograf

  24. Nordic Music Days 2019

    general

    Nordic Music Days 2019

  25. Country - a cello concert by Rønsholdt

    general

    Country - a cello concert by Rønsholdt

  26. KLANG 2019

    general

    KLANG 2019

  27. Save 25% on all solo pieces

    general

    Save 25% on all solo pieces

  28. Niels Rønsholdt turns 40

    general

    Niels Rønsholdt turns 40

  29. Review of Rønsholdt and Steen-Andersen at SPOR

    general

    Review of Rønsholdt and Steen-Andersen at SPOR

  30. Significant work grants for Edition·S composers

    general

    Significant work grants for Edition·S composers

  31. Edition·S composers at Darmstadt

    general

    Edition·S composers at Darmstadt

  32. SPOR presents Rønsholdt and Steen-Andersen

    general

    SPOR presents Rønsholdt and Steen-Andersen

  33. Tjørnhøj and Rønsholdt nominated for Carl Prisen

    general

    Tjørnhøj and Rønsholdt nominated for Carl Prisen

  34. X & X – new Hodkinson/Rønsholdt project

    general

    X & X – new Hodkinson/Rønsholdt project

  35. Excellent review of Rønsholdt’s Songs of Doubt CD

    general

    Excellent review of Rønsholdt’s Songs of Doubt CD

  36. Praise for Falling Awake, MONO and Civilizations

    general

    Praise for Falling Awake, MONO and Civilizations

  37. Niels Rønsholdt’s Songs of Doubt released on CD

    general

    Niels Rønsholdt’s Songs of Doubt released on CD

  38. Accordion, yoga and audience participation – of course

    general

    Accordion, yoga and audience participation – of course

  39. The sound of Denmark’s colonization of Greenland

    general

    The sound of Denmark’s colonization of Greenland

  40. New Rønsholdt works are

    general

    New Rønsholdt works are "hypnotically beautiful"

  41. New Rønsholdt opera premiering in the dark

    general

    New Rønsholdt opera premiering in the dark

  42. The world’s first opera app is launched

    general

    The world’s first opera app is launched

  43. Great Review of Me Quitte

    general

    Great Review of Me Quitte

  44. Niels Rønsholdt in Hong Kong

    general

    Niels Rønsholdt in Hong Kong

  45. Danish premiere of Songs of Doubt by Niels Rønsholdt

    general

    Danish premiere of Songs of Doubt by Niels Rønsholdt

  46. Niels Rønsholdt writes music for The Fool

    general

    Niels Rønsholdt writes music for The Fool

  47. Four New Composer Portraits

    general

    Four New Composer Portraits

  48. Rønsholdt and Kynde featured at November Music

    general

    Rønsholdt and Kynde featured at November Music

  49. Klejs & Rønsholdt to Shanghai

    general

    Klejs & Rønsholdt to Shanghai

  50. World Premiere of Niels Rønsholdt's New Piece

    general

    World Premiere of Niels Rønsholdt's New Piece

  51. Branching Out

    general

    Branching Out

  52. Chromatische Weltmusik and the Ghost of Schubert at Klangspuren Festival

    general

    Chromatische Weltmusik and the Ghost of Schubert at Klangspuren Festival

  53. Klangspuren Festival

    general

    Klangspuren Festival

  54. Word for Word in Roskilde

    general

    Word for Word in Roskilde

  55. Inverted Notions and Introverted Space

    general

    Inverted Notions and Introverted Space

  56. Klang Festival 2014

    general

    Klang Festival 2014

  57. SPOR Festival 2014

    general

    SPOR Festival 2014

  58. Rønsholdt appointed at the Royal Academy of Music, Århus/Ålborg

    general

    Rønsholdt appointed at the Royal Academy of Music, Århus/Ålborg

  59. Edition·S composers home and abroad

    general

    Edition·S composers home and abroad

  60. Jack Quartet in Denmark

    general

    Jack Quartet in Denmark

  61. Niels Rønsholdt in Belgium

    general

    Niels Rønsholdt in Belgium

  62. DokumentarKoncert #2: Niels Rønsholdt

    general

    DokumentarKoncert #2: Niels Rønsholdt

  63. Me Quitte at SPOR Festival

    general

    Me Quitte at SPOR Festival

  64. SPOR Festival 2013

    general

    SPOR Festival 2013

  65. SPOR Programme Released

    general

    SPOR Programme Released

  66. Gothenburg Burning

    general

    Gothenburg Burning

  67. Me Quitte Granted 50,000 DKKr.

    general

    Me Quitte Granted 50,000 DKKr.

  68. Edition·S experiments with composer portraits

    general

    Edition·S experiments with composer portraits

  69. Edition·S invasion at Athelas next week

    general

    Edition·S invasion at Athelas next week

  70. Two premieres at SPOR Festival 2012

    general

    Two premieres at SPOR Festival 2012

  71. A Busy Spring for Edition·S Composers

    general

    A Busy Spring for Edition·S Composers

  72. Edition·S and SPOR festival join forces

    general

    Edition·S and SPOR festival join forces

  73. New exciting blog-montage on seismograf.org

    general

    New exciting blog-montage on seismograf.org

  74. Podcast Interviews from hcmf// 2011

    general

    Podcast Interviews from hcmf// 2011

  75. Huddersfield Interviews & Reviews

    general

    Huddersfield Interviews & Reviews

  76. Denmark enters the Huddersfield Festival 2011

    general

    Denmark enters the Huddersfield Festival 2011

Show More News

Calendar

  1. September 2021
  2. 18

    September

    Niels Rønsholdt: Centalog

    time16:00

    location Frederiksberg Festspil, La Oficina, Frederiksberg, Denmark

    performed by Taïga String Quartet

  1. August 2022
  2. 25

    August

    Niels Rønsholdt: Den Sidste Olie

    time22:00

    location Copenhagen Opera Festival, Østerbro Skøjtehal, Copenhagen, Denmark

    performed by -

  3. 26

    August

    Niels Rønsholdt: Den Sidste Olie

    time22:00

    location Copenhagen Opera Festival, Østerbro Skøjtehal, Copenhagen, Denmark

    performed by -