Knut Nystedt
| Knut Nystedt | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Knut Nystedt |
| Born |
3 September 1915 Kristiania, Norway |
| Died | 8 December 2014 (aged 99) Oslo, Norway |
| Occupation(s) | |
Knut Nystedt (3 September 1915 – 8 December 2014) was a Norwegian 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 studied with Aaron Copland among others. Nystedt was organist in Torshov Church in Oslo from 1946 to 1982 and taught choir conducting at the University of Oslo from 1964 to 1985.
Nystedt founded and conducted The Norwegian Soloists' Choir from 1950 to 1990. He also founded and conducted Schola Cantorum from 1964 to 1985. The choir Ensemble 96 published "Immortal Nystedt" in 2005. This CD was nominated in two categories in the 2007 Grammy Awards. This was the first Norwegian CD nominated in two categories. It was also the first CD with a Norwegian composer nominated for a Grammy. On the occasion of his 90th birthday in 2005, there were several concerts around the world held in his honour.
Key Nystedt works include the symphony Apocalypsis Joannis for soloists, choir and orchestra, op. 155 (1998) commissioned by the Oslo Philharmonic, Ode til mennesket, op. 159 (2000) featuring texts by Sophokles, Hippocrates and Plato, The Word Became Flesh, op. 162 (2001) commissioned by the Augsburg College Choir and Reach Out For Peace for soprano, choir and orchestra, op. 164 A (2001) commissioned by the Ceciliaforeningen.
In 1966, the King of Norway made Nystedt a 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 the Spellemann Award in 1978 for his album Contemporary Music From Norway and received the music prize of the Arts Council Norway in 1980. In 1965, De Profundis was bestowed with the award Work of the Year of the Norwegian Society of Composers. Nystedt was awarded an honorary professorship ('Professor Honorario') by Mendoza University Argentina in 1991. In 2002 he received Choir Prize of the Year from The Norwegian Choir Association and in 2005 The Artists prize by the City of Oslo.
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