Significant Norwegian choral music since World War II: A study of the compositional styles of Knut Nystedt and Egil Hovland.

Abstract

Since the end of World War II many Scandinavians have emerged as important choral music composers. This study focuses on two Norwegian composers, Knut Nystedt and Egil Hovland. Two works by Nystedt, "Thou O Lord," and "Praise to God," and one work by Hovland, Missa Misericordiae, are analyzed to determine the most important features of the compositional styles of Nystedt and Hovland. The analysis reveals that factors such as the Norwegian national romantic movement of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, ancient music styles such as Gregorian chant, twentieth century techniques such as neoclassicism and dodecaphony, and recent reforms in Norwegian Church music have influenced the compositional style of both men. The evidence suggests that although Nystedt and Hovland have many similarities in compositional style both men have developed a highly individual musical language that is accessible yet challenging to the listener, conductor, and choir.