Claes Holmgren

Swedish composer and was a cathedral organist in Visby 1992–2019, born 28 October 1957 in Valbo. Before his service in Visby, he was organist in Staffans Kyrka, Gävle 1981–1990. Holmgren has edited and published older organ works in several collections, for example Vox angelica, Vox doloris and Vox faldia, where he collected organ works by composers from the home area of ​​Gävle. Furthermore, several volumes with organ music by Gustaf Mankell. As a composer, he has mainly written vocal music, including several song cycles and two requisitions, "Where a gentle wind blows from the west" and "I know you are somewhere and in the dark shines" to lyrics by Tua Forsström, as well as organ and chamber music works, including two string quartets. He has made a large number of CD recordings with organ and choir music. As a cathedral organist, he was, among other things, the leader of several choir ensembles and conducted continuous oratorio activities in Visby Cathedral with works such as Mendelssohn-Bartholdy's Elias and Brahms' Requiem on the repertoire. He was responsible for the concert activities in Visby Cathedral and was also a producer for the annual music festivals. He also carried out educational activities in close collaboration with many young composers. About fifty compositions have been written directly for him. In 2013, he participated in the project "A Very Big Concert" arranged by Swedish Radio and others. In this, most of the bells of Gotland's churches rang at the same time and the sound was transmitted simultaneously to the radio broadcast. Together with Karin Rehnqvist, he composed a concert for carillon in connection with this project. In 2010 he was appointed director musices h.c. in Visby diocese. Today he is active in Gävle.