A Swiss composer of operas, chamber music, and orchestral music who was influenced in his early work by the impressionists and Stravinski's modernism. Honegger used a personal style in his main work that is densely bitonal, classically polyphonic, and emotionally austere. This is especially apparent in the beautiful Symphony for String Orchestra no. 2, with a mysteriously emerging trumpet solo in the last movement -- a work written in occupied Paris of WWII. His oratorio Jeanne d'Arc au bucher is a significant work told in a series of episodic "flashbacks," a form that fits well with the music. ~ Blue Gene Tyranny, All Music Guide