Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Norway

Birth

:

September 3, 1915 in Oslo, Norway

Death

:

December 8, 2014

Period

:

Contemporary

 

 

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Choral

 

 

Keyboard

 

Knut Nystedt was a Norwegian composer and conductor who was born on September 3, 1915, in Kristiania (now Oslo), Norway. He was the son of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. His father, Olaus Nystedt, was a composer and conductor, and his mother, Ingeborg Nystedt, was a pianist. Knut Nystedt began his musical education at an early age, studying piano and violin with his mother. He later studied composition with Bjarne Brustad and conducting with Øivin Fjeldstad. Nystedt's early compositions were influenced by the Norwegian folk music tradition and the works of Edvard Grieg. He also drew inspiration from the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and other Baroque composers. In the 1940s, Nystedt began to experiment with new compositional techniques, including serialism and aleatoric music. He also became interested in choral music and began to compose works for choir. Nystedt's breakthrough as a composer came in 1956 with the premiere of his "Cantus" for choir and orchestra. The work, which is based on a medieval Latin hymn, features a hauntingly beautiful melody that is repeated and developed throughout the piece. "Cantus" became one of Nystedt's most popular works and has been performed by choirs and orchestras around the world. Throughout his career, Nystedt continued to compose works for choir, including several settings of the Mass and other liturgical texts. He also wrote instrumental music, including works for piano, organ, and orchestra. In addition to his work as a composer, Nystedt was a respected conductor and served as the music director of the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra from 1962 to 1968. One of Nystedt's most famous works is his setting of the "Stabat Mater" for choir and soloists. The piece, which was composed in 1985, is a powerful meditation on the suffering of Mary at the foot of the cross. Nystedt's use of dissonance and unconventional harmonies creates a sense of tension and drama that is perfectly suited to the text. Another notable work by Nystedt is his "Immortal Bach" for choir and soloists. The piece, which was composed in 1988, is a tribute to Johann Sebastian Bach and features a setting of the chorale "Komm, süsser Tod" (Come, sweet death) that is interspersed with fragments of Bach's music. The effect is both haunting and uplifting, as Nystedt pays homage to one of the greatest composers of all time. Nystedt's music has been performed by some of the world's leading choirs and orchestras, including the King's Singers, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic. His works have also been recorded by numerous ensembles, including the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Norwegian Soloists' Choir, and the Netherlands Chamber Choir. In addition to his work as a composer and conductor, Nystedt was a respected music educator. He taught at the Oslo Conservatory of Music and was a visiting professor at several universities in the United States. He also served as the president of the Norwegian Society of Composers from 1966 to 1970. Nystedt received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including the Order of St. Olav, Norway's highest civilian honor, and the Nordic Council Music Prize. He died on December 8, 2014, at the age of 99, leaving behind a legacy of beautiful and innovative music that continues to inspire and move audiences around the world.

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