Knut Nystedt (Composer, Arranger)

Born: September 3, 1915 - Kristiania (now Oslo), Norway
Died: December 8, 2014 - Oslo, Norway

Knut Nystedt was a Norwegian orchestral and choral composer. He grew up in a Christian home where hymns and classical music were an important part of everyday life. He studied composition with Bjarne Brustad and Aaron Copland, organ with Arild Sandvold and Ernest White, and conducting with Øivin Fjeldstad.

Knut Nystedt was organist in Torshov kirke (Torshov Church) in Oslo from 1946 to 1982 and was teaching choir conducting at the Universitetet i Oslo from 1964 to 1985. He founded and conducted Det Norske Solistkor in 1950-1990. He also founded and conducted Schola Cantorum in 1964-1985. The choir Ensemble 96 published Immortal Nystedt (2005). This CD was 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 90^th birthday.

In 1966, the King of Norway made Knut Nystedt 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).

Knut Nystedt's major compositions for choir and vocal soloists are mainly based on texts from the Bible or sacred themes. Old church music, especially Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina and Gregorian chants, had a major influence on his compositions. Most of his compositions (the score) is published by Norsk Musikforlag. His compositions are also published in several CD's in Norway and several other countries.

Source: Wikipedia Website; Godthaabchoir Website
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (March 2008, April 2017)

Use of Chorale Melodies in his works

Title

Chorale Melody

Year

Komm süsser Tod, for chorus (after Bach)

Komm süßer Tod

Links to other Sites

Knut Nystedt (Wikipedia)

Knut Nystedt (Godthaabchoir)

Bibliography