Henkemans was one of the most important Dutch composers of his time. From 1926 to 1931 he studied piano and composition with Bernhard van den Sigtenhorst Meyer, and from 1933 to 1938 with Willem Pijper.[1] Later he studied piano with George van Renesse.[1] Henkemans was influenced by Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel and Willem Pijper.
Psychiatry
From 1931, Henkemans studied medicine at the University of Utrecht.[1] In 1981 Henkemans analyzed the creative process in the textbook Sublimatie-stoornissen bij kunstenaars [Sublimation disorders in artists] (Deventer, 1981).[1]
List of compositions
Stage
Winter Cruise, Opera in 3 acts (1977); libretto by the composer after W. Somerset Maugham
Orchestra
Voorspel (Prelude) for orchestra (1936)
Primavera for small orchestra (1944, published 1950, for larger orchestra 1959)[2]
Partita for orchestra (1960)
Barcarola fantastica for orchestra (1962)
Dona montana, three pieces for orchestra (1964)
Riflessioni, 3 pieces for small string orchestra (1985–1986, revised 1987)
Concertante
Concerto No.1 for piano and string orchestra (1932)
Passacaglia and Gigue (Piano Concerto No.2) for piano and orchestra (1941–1942)
Concerto for flute and orchestra (1945–1946)
Concerto for violin and orchestra (1948–1950; published 1950)[3][4]
Concerto for viola and orchestra (1950; published 1954)
Concerto for harp and orchestra (1955)
Élégies – in memoriam Pierre Monteux for four flutes and orchestra (1967)
Concerto for horn and orchestra (1981)
Concerto for cello and orchestra (1988–1989)
Concerto No.3 for piano and orchestra (1992)
Chamber music
Quintet for harp and string quartet (1931)
Quintet No.1 for winds (1934)
Sonata for cello and piano (1936)
Primavera for flute, oboe (or oboe d'amore), clarinet, horn, 3 violins, 2 violas, cello and double bass (1944); orchestrated in 1959
Sonata for violin and piano (1944)
Hommage à Willem Pijper for flute and piano, from 10 compositions of the same title by various composers (1957)
Quintet No.2 for winds (1962)
Quattro pezzi for flute and harp (1963)
Aere festivo for 3 trumpets and 2 trombones (1965)