Dr. Jeffrey Holmes

Jeffrey Holmes composes post-spectral, teleological music incorporating elements of mysticism and lyrical expression. His creative inspiration is rooted in primitive myths, transcendent legends, and dramatic elemental landscapes in their primal and violent natural states. As a traditionalist, he composes music for acoustic orchestral instruments, using standard notational methods; as a formalist, he works within a complex and unique non-octave diatonic, chromatic, and microtonal language; as a transcendentalist, he combines the inherent abstraction of sound with a greater meaning and possibility of interpretation through the use of lyricism and overt expression.

Holmes’ music has been described as “Music of raw power and vision...a particularly impressive combination of technical prowess and deep expression” (Fanfare Magazine); “Captivating...the haunting and slightly disorienting sounds disrupt and engage the open ear” (Los Angeles Times); “Brilliantly crafted, a captivating listening experience...extraordinary craftsmanship as well as a mastery of contemporary musical forms” (Sequenza 21).

Commissions and performances have come from the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Carnegie Hall, the Guitar Foundation of America, Darmstadt Ferienkurs für Neue Musik, the Talea Ensemble, the JACK, Penderecki, and Lyris String Quartets, Thierry Pécou and Ensemble Variances, the PARTCH Ensemble, and from soloists including Michael Kudirka, Kirsten Ashley Wiest, Nicholas Isherwood, Jason Hardink, Vincent Ranallo, and Pierre Bibault. Holmes’ music is published by Composers Edition (London, UK), Doberman-Yppan/Les Productions d’OZ (Quebec, Canada), and Edition Svitzer (Copenhagen, Denmark), and has been released internationally on MicroFest Records, Centaur Records, Ablaze Records, and Sono Luminus.