Torstein Grythe
Encyclopedia
Torstein Eliot Berg Grythe (24 November 1918 – 1 May 2009) was a Norwegian choir leader.
He was born in Kristiania
as a son of tailor Endre Grythe (1882–1955) og Asta Berg (1897–1978). He enrolled in violin
studies at the Norwegian Academy of Music
in 1927, and joined the boys' choir
Olavsguttene in 1928 and Oslo Domkor in 1932. He became vice conductor
under Arild Sandvold. In 1940 he started the boys' choir Sølvguttene
("The Silver Boys"). During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
he was arrested on 29 November 1943 and was imprisoned in Grini concentration camp until 23 December. In August 1946 he married civil servant Eva-Marie Lindegaard.
Sølvguttene was ultimately organized as a part of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. Grythe had played the viola
in the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation radio orchestra since 1937. In 1951 he was appointed as conductor of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation boys' choir, founded in 1947. The choir was incorporated into Sølvguttene in 1967, and conducted the choir until 2004.
He also conducted other choirs, including the Bondeungdomslaget men's choir in 1952 and the Norwegian Student Choral Society
from 1973 to 1976. He was a music teacher at Foss Upper Secondary School from 1955 to 1972 and at Oslo Teachers' College
from 1972 to 1987.
He was decorated with The King's Medal of Merit, the Medal of St. Hallvard
and the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. He received silver and gold records
, the Spellemann Honorary Award
in 1990, and the Gammleng Prize in 1996.
He was born in Kristiania
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...
as a son of tailor Endre Grythe (1882–1955) og Asta Berg (1897–1978). He enrolled in violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
studies at the Norwegian Academy of Music
Norwegian Academy of Music
The Norwegian Academy of Music is a music conservatory located in Oslo, Norway, in the neighbourhood of Majorstuen, Frogner. It is the largest music academy in Norway and offers the country's highest level of music education. As a university college, it offers both undergraduate and postgraduate...
in 1927, and joined the boys' choir
Boys' choir
A boys' choir is a choir primarily made up of choirboys who have yet to begin puberty or are in the early to middle stages of puberty and so retain their more highly pitched childhood voice type...
Olavsguttene in 1928 and Oslo Domkor in 1932. He became vice conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
under Arild Sandvold. In 1940 he started the boys' choir Sølvguttene
Sølvguttene
Sølvguttene is a boy choir founded by Torstein Grythe in June, 1940. He would hold the position as conductor until 2006, when Fredrik Otterstad took over. The choir had its first rehearsals in his apartment in Oslo, but were soon offered to rehearse in Norwegian Broadcasting’s facilities...
("The Silver Boys"). During the occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany started with the German invasion of Norway on April 9, 1940, and ended on May 8, 1945, after the capitulation of German forces in Europe. Throughout this period, Norway was continuously occupied by the Wehrmacht...
he was arrested on 29 November 1943 and was imprisoned in Grini concentration camp until 23 December. In August 1946 he married civil servant Eva-Marie Lindegaard.
Sølvguttene was ultimately organized as a part of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. Grythe had played the viola
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
in the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation radio orchestra since 1937. In 1951 he was appointed as conductor of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation boys' choir, founded in 1947. The choir was incorporated into Sølvguttene in 1967, and conducted the choir until 2004.
He also conducted other choirs, including the Bondeungdomslaget men's choir in 1952 and the Norwegian Student Choral Society
Norwegian Student Choral Society
The Norwegian Student Choral Society is a Norwegian male choir.It was founded in 1845, and is the oldest choir in Norway. The initiative was taken by Johan D. Behrens, and conductors throughout its history include Behrens, Halfdan Kjerulf, O. A. Grøndahl, Sigurd Torkildsen and Sverre Bruland...
from 1973 to 1976. He was a music teacher at Foss Upper Secondary School from 1955 to 1972 and at Oslo Teachers' College
Oslo University College
Oslo University College , Norwegian: Høgskolen i Oslo is the largest state university college in Norway, with more than 11,000 students and approx. 1100 employees...
from 1972 to 1987.
He was decorated with The King's Medal of Merit, the Medal of St. Hallvard
Medal of St. Hallvard
The Medal of St. Hallvard is the highest award of the city of Oslo. It is named after the city's patron, Saint Hallvard . The medal has been awarded since 1956.-Recipients:The following people have received the medal:...
and the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. He received silver and gold records
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
, the Spellemann Honorary Award
Spellemannprisen
Spellemannprisen is an award presented to Norwegian musicians for their contributions.-Operation:The award was established on the initiative of International Federation of the Phonographic Industry , an organization that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide...
in 1990, and the Gammleng Prize in 1996.