News Archives - 2000

Knut Nystedt, one of Norway's premiere composers, is celebrating his 85th birthday as the guest of honor at a performance featuring his music. Augsburg College and Wayzata Community Church join together to commemorate this event on Sunday, Oct. 29, at 7 p.m. at Wayzata Community Church, Wayzata, MN.

Musicians will include Diana Lee Lucker, organ; Augsburg College Masterworks Chorale and Orchestra; Janet Gottschall Fried, soprano; and Bradley Greenwald, baritone. The performance will be conducted by Peter Hendrickson, Augsburg faculty member.

Knut Nystedt was affiliated with Augsburg College through his association with Leland B. Sateren, former choral conductor. Nystedt has also had a long friendship with Diana Lee Lucker, director of music at Wayzata Community Church, whose doctoral dissertation focused on Nystedt's organ works.

The program, which consists of pieces composed by Nystedt, includes Tu es Petrus, an organ composition based on Jesus's words to Peter: "upon this rock I will build my church", an impulsive introduction that leads into a fugue. The musicians will also perform Magnificat for a New Millennium (Op. 152), for chorus, trombone, and percussion. This work premiered at the Expo 2000 in Hannover, Norway. Prize-winning orchestral work, Spenningens land (Op. 19), the cantata, Lucis creator optime (Op. 58), one of his major productions of the decade which was commissioned for Augsburg College's centennial, and A Hymn of Human Rights (Op. 95) will also be performed.

Knut Nystedt, born in Kristiania (now Oslo), Norway in 1915, 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 chant, have had a major influence on his compositions. Nystedt's faith is the foundation of all of his work; music is his way of proclaiming the gospel.

Nystedt has studied music with reknowned composers and organists such as Arild Sandvold and Bjarne Brustd, Norway; and Aaron Copland, United States.

"The wedding of tradition and modernity, together with a brilliatly imaginative use of sound characterizes Nystedt as a composer."‹Nils Grinde

General admission tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. For more information contact Augsburg College Music Department at (612) 330-1265.