Knut Nystedt
Encyclopedia
Knut Nystedt is an orchestral and choral composer.
Nystedt was born in Kristiania (now Oslo)
, Norway
, and grew up in a Christian home where hymns and classical music were an important part of everyday life. His major compositions for choir and vocal soloists are mainly based on texts from the Bible or sacred themes. Old church music, especially Palestrina and Gregorian chants, have had a major influence on his compositions.
He has studied with Aaron Copland
, among others. Nystedt was organist in Torshov kirke (Torshov Church) in Oslo from 1946 to 1982 and taught choir conducting at the Universitetet i Oslo from 1964 to 1985.
Nystedt founded and conducted Det Norske Solistkor from 1950 to 1990. He also founded and conducted Schola Cantorum
from 1964 to 1985. The choir Ensemble 96
has published «Immortal Nystedt» (2005). This CD has been nominated in two categories in the Grammy Awards 2007. This is the first Norwegian cd nominated in two categories. Also the first cd with a Norwegian composer nominated to Grammy. In 2005 he was honoured by several concerts around the world, celebrating his 90th birthday.
In 1966, the King of Norway made him Knight of the Order of St. Olav in recognition of his contributions to Norwegian music. And in 2002 the King of Norway made him Commander of St. Olav.
He received Spellemannprisen 1978 for his album Contemporary Music From Norway. He received Norsk Kulturråds Musikkpris in 1980. «De Profundis» became the work of the year Norsk Komponistforening. Knut Nystedt became Professor Honorario by Mendoza University Argentina in 1991. In 2002 he received Årets Korpris from Norges Korforbund and Oslo bys Kunstnerpris (The Artists prize by the City of Oslo) (2005).
Most of his compositions (the score) are published by Norsk Musikforlag. http://www.norskmusikkforlag.no/
His compositions are also published in several cds in Norway and several other countries.
Nystedt was born in Kristiania (now Oslo)
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, and grew up in a Christian home where hymns and classical music were an important part of everyday life. His major compositions for choir and vocal soloists are mainly based on texts from the Bible or sacred themes. Old church music, especially Palestrina and Gregorian chants, have had a major influence on his compositions.
He has studied with Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland was an American composer, composition teacher, writer, and later in his career a conductor of his own and other American music. He was instrumental in forging a distinctly American style of composition, and is often referred to as "the Dean of American Composers"...
, among others. Nystedt was organist in Torshov kirke (Torshov Church) in Oslo from 1946 to 1982 and taught choir conducting at the Universitetet i Oslo from 1964 to 1985.
Nystedt founded and conducted Det Norske Solistkor from 1950 to 1990. He also founded and conducted Schola Cantorum
Schola Cantorum (Norwegian choir)
Schola Cantorum is a chamber choir from Norway. The choir was founded by the composer and conductor Knut Nystedt in 1964, and has given valuable musical experience to generations of Norwegian musicians. Affiliated with the University of Oslo, Department of Musicology, the choir recruits most of...
from 1964 to 1985. The choir Ensemble 96
Ensemble 96
Ensemble 96 is a Norwegian chamber choir located in Oslo. The choir works mainly with contemporary music and is partly funded by government grants. It has released several CDs, and given concerts and participated in national and international choral competitions...
has published «Immortal Nystedt» (2005). This CD has been nominated in two categories in the Grammy Awards 2007. This is the first Norwegian cd nominated in two categories. Also the first cd with a Norwegian composer nominated to Grammy. In 2005 he was honoured by several concerts around the world, celebrating his 90th birthday.
In 1966, the King of Norway made him Knight of the Order of St. Olav in recognition of his contributions to Norwegian music. And in 2002 the King of Norway made him Commander of St. Olav.
He received Spellemannprisen 1978 for his album Contemporary Music From Norway. He received Norsk Kulturråds Musikkpris in 1980. «De Profundis» became the work of the year Norsk Komponistforening. Knut Nystedt became Professor Honorario by Mendoza University Argentina in 1991. In 2002 he received Årets Korpris from Norges Korforbund and Oslo bys Kunstnerpris (The Artists prize by the City of Oslo) (2005).
Most of his compositions (the score) are published by Norsk Musikforlag. http://www.norskmusikkforlag.no/
His compositions are also published in several cds in Norway and several other countries.
External links
- Jens StaubrandJens StaubrandJens Staubrand is a Danish freelance journalist, author and philosopher. Staubrand gained a degree in philosophy from the University of Copenhagen in 1987, with a thesis about Søren Kierkegaard and Mozart's opera Don Giovanni. He has written books and articles in the field of culture and art, and...
: Kierkegaard International Bibliography Music Works and Plays, Copenhagen 2009. In English and Danish. ISBN 978 87 92510 05 1. Including Knut Nystedt's PRAYERS OF KIERKEGAARD, for mixed chor a capella, the Kierkegaard words are taken from Addresses At Holy Communion On Fridays, The Heathens’ Anxieties and The Journals
- Stemmer fra Musikken has sound recordings with Knut Nystedt in Norwegian (NRK).