Knut Nystedt

Short bio Knut Nystedt

Birthday: 1915 in Oslo, Norway

Died: 2014

Active: 1940s - 1990s

Genre: Classical

Period: Contemporary, Modern

Full biography Knut Nystedt

Knut Nystedt was a Norwegian composer, conductor, and organist who lived from 1915 to 2014. He was primarily known for his choral compositions, many of which are still performed today by choirs around the world.

Nystedt's music was heavily influenced by his Lutheran faith, and he often incorporated religious themes and texts into his compositions. Many of his works are written for unaccompanied choir, with a particular emphasis on harmony and the blending of voices.

One of Nystedt's most famous works is his "Immortal Bach," which reimagines Johann Sebastian Bach's "Komm, süsser Tod" for an a cappella choir. The piece has been performed by countless choirs around the world and has become a staple of the choral repertoire.

In addition to his work as a composer, Nystedt was also known for his skill as a conductor and organist. He served as the conductor of the Norwegian State Broadcasting Choir for over two decades and was a professor of choral conducting at the University of Oslo.

Nystedt's contributions to the world of choral music have been widely recognized. He was awarded numerous accolades over the course of his career, including the Order of St. Olav, Norway's highest civilian honor. His music continues to be performed and enjoyed by music lovers around the world to this day.

Compositions featuring Knut Nystedt

#	Name	Duration	Genre	Year
1	Sansene, for female chorus, Op. 168	6:02 min	Choral	2002
2	Apocalypsis Joannis, symphony for soprano, tenor, chorus & orchestra, Op. 155	93:10 min	Symphony	200?
3	Le Verbe Éternel for organ, Op. 133	9:07 min	Keyboard	1993
4	Prélude Héroïque for organ, Op. 123	3:16 min	Keyboard	1990
5	String Quartet No. 5		Chamber Music	1988
6	Ave Maria, chorus & violin	11:57 min	Choral	1986
7	Missa brevis, for chorus, Op. 102	16:30 min	Choral	1985
8	Masquerade, for brass ensemble, Op. 91	13:30 min	Chamber Music	1982
9	Suite for organ, Op. 84	16:23 min	Keyboard	1979
10	O crux, for chorus, Op. 79	6:05 min	Choral	1977
11	Hosanna, for chorus	3:35 min	Choral	1977
12	Shells, for female chorus	4:20 min	Choral	1973
13	String Quartet No. 4, Op. 56	14:36 min	Chamber Music	1966
14	Pietà for organ, Op. 50	5:35 min	Keyboard	1961
15	String Quartet No. 3, Op. 40	23:39 min	Chamber Music	1956
16	Fantasia Trionfale for organ, Op. 37	5:15 min	Keyboard	1955
17	String Quartet No. 2, Op. 23	25:01 min	Chamber Music	1948
18	Pastorale for organ, Op. 20/1	3:37 min	Keyboard	1947
19	Toccata for organ, Op. 9	4:05 min	Keyboard	1941
20	Variasjoner over 'Med Jesus vil eg fara" (Norwegian folk-tune from Sunnmøre), for organ, Op. 4	13:12 min	Keyboard	1940
21	Introduzione e Passacaglia per Organo, Op. 7	13:26 min	Keyboard	1940
22	Sing and Rejoice, for chorus & organ	3:39 min	Choral	-
23	Stabat Mater, Op. 111	15:44 min	Choral	-
24	Neslandskyrkja, for chorus	3:34 min	Choral	-
25	The Land of Suspence, for orchestra, Op. 19	10:01 min	Orchestral	-
26	No koma Guds englar, for chorus	2:44 min	Choral	-
27	Nytt er livet, for chorus, Op. 170	7:07 min	Choral	-
28	Thus Saith the Lord, motet for chorus	1:54 min	Choral	-
29	Thou, O Lord, for chorus	3:34 min	Choral	-
30	Partita "Veni Creator Spritus" Op.75	11:56 min		-
31	Sancta Maria, for 6 female voices	3:45 min	Choral	-
32	Peace I Leave With You, for chorus, Op. 43/2	2:24 min	Choral	-
33	Pia Memoria, for 9 brass instruments, Op 65	15:00 min	Chamber Music	-
34	Lucis Creator Optime, for soloists, chorus & orchestra, Op 58	1:41 min	Choral	-
35	Prayers of Kierkegaard, for chorus, Op. 157	16:51 min	Choral	-
36	The Word Became Flesh, for chorus, Op. 162		Choral	-
37	The Moment, for voice, celesta & percussion, Op. 52	7:24 min	Vocal Music	-
38	Resurrexit for organ, Op. 68	12:18 min	Keyboard	-
39	Salve Regina, for chorus, Op. 156a		Choral	-
40	I Am My Brother's Keeper, for chorus	3:47 min	Choral	-
41	Adoro te, for chorus	8:43 min	Choral	-
42	Be Not Afraid, for chorus, Op. 146	4:18 min	Choral	-
43	Beata Nobis, for male chorus	5:05 min	Choral	-
44	Concerto Arctandriae, for string ensemble, Op.128	21:10 min	Concerto	-
45	Concerto for horn & orchestra, Op 114	19:37 min	Concerto	-
46	Das Alte Lied, for choir, Op. 83	13:49 min	Choral	-
47	De Profundis, for chorus	8:34 min	Choral	-
48	Die Güte des Herrn	6:35 min	Choral	-
49	Die Güte Des Herrn, for chorus, Op. 125	6:38 min	Choral	-
50	En stjerne klar, for chorus	1:37 min	Choral	-
51	Es sollen wohl Berge weichen, for vocal ensemble	6:47 min	Choral	-
52	Exsultate, for organ, Op. 74a	9:37 min	Keyboard	-
53	Herr, neige deine Ohren, motet for chorus (Psalm 86: 1-12)	9:57 min	Choral	-
54	Hymn of Human Right, for choir, Op. 95	10:50 min	Choral	-
55	Miserere, Op. 140	14:29 min	Choral	-
56	I Will Praise Thee O Lord, motet for chorus	1:48 min	Choral	-
57	Ichthys, for orchestra, Op. 76	12:40 min	Orchestral	-
58	If You Receive My Words, for chorus, Op. 61/4	6:21 min	Choral	-
59	Immortal Bach (After Bach's Chorale Come Sweet Death), for chorus	5:30 min	Choral	-
60	Jeg er verdens lys	2:01 min	Choral	-
61	Jerusalem, for choir	8:10 min	Choral	-
62	Jesu sieben Worte, for chorus, Op. 171	11:01 min	Chamber Music	-
63	Jesus, din søte forening å smake, for chorus	2:30 min	Choral	-
64	Komm süsser Tod (Come, Sweet Death), for chorus	4:51 min	Choral	-
65	Kristnikvede (Canticles of Praise), Op.144	32:41 min		-
66	Kärlekens lov (The Praise of Love), for chorus	14:43 min	Choral	-
67	Laudate Dominum, for chorus	1:55 min	Choral	-
68	A Song as in the Night for soprano & baritone solo, chorus & string orchestra, Op.149	38:16 min	Orchestral	-
69	Mary's Song	5:56 min	Choral	-

Albums featuring Knut Nystedt

#	Name album	Year	Music label
1	Boccherini, Bononcini, Caldara, Dvořák, Haydn, Howells, Lachner, Liszt, Mayr, Nystedt, Palestrina, Pärt, Pergolesi, Perosi, Poulenc, Rossini, A. Scarlatti, D. Scarlatti, Schubert, Stanford, Steffani, Szymanowski, Verdi, Vivaldi – Stabat Mater(14×CD, Compi	2017	Brilliant Classics
2	J.S. Bach, R. Bocca, C. Boccadoro, K. Nystedt, I. Xenakis And J. Cage, Simone Rubino – Immortal Bach(CD, Album)	2017	GENUIN
3	Bach, Nystedt, Norwegian Soloists' Choir, Ensemble Allegria, Grete Pedersen – Meins Lebens Licht(SACD, Hybrid, Multichannel, Album)	2015	BIS
4	Roxanna Panufnik, Gustav Holst, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Sergey Rachmaninov, John Tavener, Henryk Górecki, Jaakko Mäntyjarvi, Pierre Villette, Knut Nystedt - Richard May (3) · Exultate Singers · David Ogden (3) – All Shall Be Well(CD, Album)	2012	Naxos
5	Ildebrando Pizzetti - Knut Nystedt - Herbert Howells / Chœur Stella Maris - Ensemble Vocal Lux Æterna - Direction : Olivier Bardot – Et Lux Perpetua(CD, Album)	2009	Not On Label
6	Knut Nystedt, Ensemble 96, Øystein Fevang – Immortal Nystedt(SACD, Hybrid, Multichannel, Album)	2005	2L
7	via-nova-chor München, Kurt Suttner / Van Buren • Schanderl • Nystedt • Hamel, Hiller – Chormusik Vom Ende Des 20. Jahrhunderts(CD, Album)	2003	Carus
8	Knut Nystedt / Mona Julsrud / James Gilchrist / Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra And Choir, Arild Remmereit – Apocalypsis Joannis(2×CD, Album)	2003	Simax Classics
9	Knut Nystedt, St Peder's Concert Choir, Karsten Blond – Knut Nystedt: Works For Choir(CD, Album)	2000	Paula
10	Brass Partout, Hermann Bäumer - Rautavaara • Sibelius • Grieg • Nystedt – Playgrounds For Angels (Nordic Music For Brass)(CD, )	2000	BIS
11	Knut Nystedt, Bergen Cathedral Choir, Bergen Cathedral Orchestra, Magnar Mangersnes – Kristnikvede(CD, Album)	1999	Simax Classics
12	Knut Nystedt(CD, Album)	1996	Norsk Komponistforening
13	Knut Nystedt, Oslo String Quartet – String Quartets(CD, Album)	1995	Simax Classics
14	Knut Nystedt, Minsk Chamber Orchestra – Symphony For Strings, Opus 26 / Concertino For Clarinet, English Horn And Strings, Opus 29 / Concerto Grosso For Three Trumpets And Strings Opus 17(CD, Album)	1993	Hemera Music
15	Lucis Creator Optime, Opus 58 / Pia Memoria, Opus 65 / Rhapsody In Green, Opus 82 / 19. Motets(2×CD, )	1992	Aurora (5)
16	Det Norske Solistkor, Knut Nystedt – Det Norske Solistkor(CD, Album)	1990	Victoria (2)
17	Det Norske Solistkor, Knut Nystedt – 40 År Med Det Norske Solistkor 1950-1990(LP, Compilation, Stereo)	1990	Victoria (2)
18	The Burnt Sacrifice Op. 36 - O. Crux Op. 79 - Shells Op. 70 A - Sinfonia Del Mare Op. 97 - De Profundis Op. 54 - Resurrexit Op. 68 - Suoni Op. 62(CD, Album)	1988	Aurora (5)
19	Gunnar Sønstevold, Anne Brown, Knut Nystedt – A Litany At Atlanta(LP)	1987	Norwegian Composers
20	A Hymn Of Human Rights(LP, Album)	1986	Aurora (5)
21	Norwegian Composers(2×LP, Album)	1985	Norwegian Composers
22	Gunnar Sønstevold, Katja Medbøe, Det Norske Solistkor, Sætre Pikekor, Den Norske Blåsekvintett, Sandvika Storband, Bærum Symfoniorkester, Knut Nystedt – Litani I Atlanta(LP, Album)	1985	Norwegian Composers
23	Knut Nystedt, Egil Hovland, Harald Herresthal – Suite D'Orgue Op. 84 (1979) / Pietà Op. 50 (1962) / Organ Toccata (1973) / Chorale Partita No. 5 (1976) / Il Canto Del Mare Op. 114 (1981)(LP)	1984	Simax Classics
24	Knut Nystedt(LP)	1983	Norwegian Composers
25	Knut Nystedt, Carl Høgset, Finn Ludt, Anne Standal – Contemporary Music From Norway(LP, Stereo)	1980	Philips
26	The Norwegian Soloists Choir, Knut Nystedt – Contemporary Music from Norway(LP, Album)	1980	Philips
27	Det Norske Solistkor, Knut Nystedt – Toner Julenatt(LP)	1980	Kirkelig Kulturverksted
28	Contemporary Music From Norway(LP)	1978	Philips
29	Kärlekens Lov(LP, Album)	1978	Kirkelig Kulturverksted
30	Det Norske Solistkor, Knut Nystedt – Franske og russiske madrigaler, Nystedt, Lie, Beck, Groven, Sommerfeldt(LP, Stereo)	1977	Sonet
31	Ketil Sæverud, Knut Nystedt, Sparre Olsen – Contemporary Music From Norway(LP)	1974	Philips
32	Harald Sæverud, David Monrad-Johansen, Knut Nystedt – Sinfonia Dolorosa, Op. 19 / Pan, Op. 22 / The Burnt Sacrifice, Op. 36	1971	Philips
33	Det Norske Solistkor , Dir.: Knut Nystedt – Det Norske Solistkor(LP)	1968	Philips
34	Klaus Egge, Knut Nystedt, The Hindar String Quartet – String Quartet No. 1 Op. 5 / String Quartet No. 4 Op. 56(LP)	1968	Philips
35	Egil Hovland / Bjørn Fongaard / Finn Mortensen / Knut Nystedt / Fartein Valen – Contemporary Music From Norway(LP, Album)	1967	Philips
36	Det Norske Solistkor, Knut Nystedt – Profane og kirkelige verk av Nystedt, Beck, Groven, Monrad Johansen, Kvandal m. fl.	1967	Philips
37	Knut Nystedt, Det Norske Solistkor – Norske Sanger Og Folkeviser(7", 45 RPM, EP)	1960	Triola
38	Johan Kvandal, Finn Arnestad, Knut Nystedt – Contemporary Music From Norway(LP)	-	Philips
39	Arild Sandvold, Kjell Mørk Karlsen, Knut Nystedt, Conrad Baden – Contemporary Music From Norway(LP, Stereo)	-	Philips
40	The Norwegian Soloist Choir , Conductor Knut Nystedt – Brudefærden I Hardanger(7", EP, Reissue)	-	RCA
41	Det Norske Solistkor - Dir.: Knut Nystedt – Negro Spirituals(7", 45 RPM, EP)	-	Ansgar
42	Det Norske Solistkor , Dir : Knut Nystedt, Egil Hovland, Bjarne Sløgedal – Norske Evangeliemotetter(7", 45 RPM, EP)	-	Ansgar