Knut Nystedt

Knut Nystedt ( born September 3, 1915 in Kristiania [ Oslo ] ) is a Norwegian composer who is best known for his choral compositions.

He studied composition with Bjarne Brustadt in Norway, and with Aaron Copland in the U.S., the organ with Arild Sandvold and Ernest White, and conducting with Øivin Fjeldstad. Nysted was from 1946 to 1981 organist at the Torshov Church in Oslo and from 1964 to 1985 professor of choral conducting at the University of Oslo. He founded Det Norske Solistkor, which he headed from 1950 to 1990, as well as the " Schola Cantorum ", which he headed from 1964 to 1985. Nystedt was the teacher of Carl Høgset, which later became the " Grex vocalis " established.

Nystedt got 1966 Olav's Medal 1st Class and 2005 the " Kommandør " award. He also received in 1980 the Music Prize of the Norwegian Cultural Council. His work " De Profundis " was years work of the Norwegian Society of Composers. Knut Nystedt 1991 Honorary Professor at the University of Mendoza in Argentina. In 2002 he was awarded the annual prize by the Norwegian Choir Association and the artist price the city of Oslo in 2004.

Nystedt grew up in a mainly Christian parents house where hymns and classical music accounted for a significant part of everyday life. His major works for chorus and vocal soloists are therefore based mainly on texts from the Bible or religious themes. Old church music, especially Palestrina and Gregorian chant, have a significant influence on his compositions.