Ketil Bjørnstad facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ketil Bjørnstad
Ketil Bjørnstad in 2013.
Background information
Birth name	Ketil Bjørnstad
Born	(1952-04-25) 25 April 1952 (age 73) Oslo, Norway
Genres	Classical, chamber jazz, third stream, folk jazz, new-age
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer, author
Instruments	Piano, keyboards
Labels	ECM, Kirkelig Kulturverksted, Hubro
Associated acts	David Darling, Terje Rypdal, Svante Henryson

Ketil Bjørnstad (born on April 25, 1952) is a talented Norwegian musician, composer, and author. He started his journey as a classical pianist. Later, he discovered jazz music and became a big part of "European jazz."

He records music with the famous ECM label. Besides music, he has written many books. These include novels, poetry, and collections of essays.

Ketil has worked with other great artists from ECM. Some of these are cellists Svante Henryson and David Darling. He also played with drummer Jon Christensen and guitarist Terje Rypdal.

Ketil Bjørnstad's Life and Music

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Bjørnstad with Ole Paus at Oslo Jazzfestival (2015).

Ketil Bjørnstad was born in Oslo, Norway. He began playing the piano at a young age. He studied with famous teachers like Amalie Christie and Robert Riefling. He also trained in London and Paris.

Ketil showed amazing talent early on. He won the "Youth Piano Master" title in 1966 and 1968. When he was just 16, he performed his first big concert. He played a piano concerto by Béla Bartók.

Exploring Jazz and Rock Music

After his classical training, Ketil became interested in jazz and rock. He worked closely with guitarist Terje Rypdal and bassist Arild Andersen. He also played with drummer Jon Christensen and American cellist David Darling.

He has released over 50 albums. These albums are on labels like Universal, Kirkelig Kulturverksted, and ECM. One of his most famous works is Leve Patagonia (1978). His song "Sommernatt ved fjorden" is also very well-known.

Ketil has recorded with many different singers and musicians. Some of them include Anneli Drecker, Kari Bremnes, and Ole Paus. His music has been used in films by directors like Ken Loach. He has toured the world, playing at many jazz festivals.

Recent Musical Projects

Ketil Bjørnstad in Stavanger, March 2009

In recent years, Ketil has worked with Swedish cellist Svante Henryson. He wrote a special piece called Himmelrand (The edge of the sky) in 2000. He has also written music for various festivals, like the Molde International Jazz Festival.

He continues to release new music. In 2014, he played for over 50,000 people in Korea. In 2015, he recorded an album called Frolandia with Ole Paus. He has also released several solo piano albums, including Shimmering and Images. His album The World I Used To Know was recorded at the famous Abbey Road Studio 2 in London.

His latest ECM album is A Suite of Poems. In 2020, he released The Personal Gallery with violinist Guro Kleven Hagen. He also released Lofotoratoriet and an opera called Flagstad-an Opera.

Ketil Bjørnstad as an Author

His First Books and Famous Novels

Ketil Bjørnstad started his writing career in 1972. His first book was a poetry collection called Alone. He has published around 30 books in total. These include poems, novels, and biographies.

Some of his early novels are Pavane and Bingo – a virtue of Essentials. His novel Oda! tells the story of Oda Krohg. This book is important for understanding the bohemian art scene in Oslo (which was called Kristiania before 1924). He also wrote a biography about Edvard Munch, a famous painter.

Award-Winning Works and Popular Series

Ketil's novel Villa Europa was highly praised. He also wrote the Victor-Alveberg trilogy. This series includes the novels Drift, Dream of the Sea, and Road to Dhaka. In 1998, he won the Riksmål prize for his book Spiritual.

His book Vindings Spiel (To the music) became very popular in Germany in 2006. A famous critic called it "a perfect book." This book also helped him become well-known in France. He won the Prix des lecteurs award for it in 2008.

Ketil wrote a trilogy about the young pianist Aksel Vinding. This series includes The music, The River, and Damen i Dalen (The Lady in the Valley). He also wrote a series of six novels about different decades, starting with The Sixties/Sekstitallet. This series has sold over 175,000 copies.

Ketil Bjørnstad's Music Albums

Ketil Bjørnstad's Books

• Ketil Bjørnstad. The Story of Edvard Munch, London, UK: Arcadia, 2001. ISBN: 1-900850-44-3
• Ketil Bjørnstad. Villa Europa, Oslo, Norway: Aschehoug, 1992 (Norwegian). ISBN: 82-03-16872-8

Awards and Recognitions

• Spellemannprisen 1974 in the open class for Berget det blå
• Sarpsborg Prize 1978
• Riksmål Society Literature Prize 1988
• Mads Wiel Nygaard's Endowment 1989
• Gammleng Prize in the open class in 2001
• The French reader prize Le prix des lecteurs for his novel To Music in 2008

See also

In Spanish: Ketil Bjørnstad para niños