He then moved to Leipzig where he studied conducting, composition, piano and bassoon at the Music Conservatory.

[citation needed] During the war, Kielland was for a short period a member of the Cultural Department's temporary consultative council (Departementets midlertidige konsultative råd i kunstneriske spørsmål), which led to accusations of cooperation with the occupying force.

He therefore rejected the offer to return to Filharmonisk Selskap in 1946, but the position was held open until 1949, in case he would reconsider.

In 1955, he took up residence in Bø, Telemark, where he began to study the Hardanger fiddle dances, in particular the polyphonic elements.

[citation needed] At his death, he had been awarded The King's Medal of Merit in gold (Kongens fortjenstmedalje i gull) and was a Knight of the Order of St. Olav and a Commander (Grand Knight) of the Icelandic Order of the Falcon (Hin íslenska fálkaorða).