Curriculum Vitae

Robert E. van der Linden, born in 1936 in Schiedam, The Netherlands.

Studied Piano and Composition at the Rotterdam Conservatorium.

As a pianist he worked as solo performer, as accompanist and répétiteur.

As a composer and arranger he aims his work to be communicative and accessible. Charactaristic for his compositions are the big contrasts and rapid changes in rhythm, harmony and colouring. In the 1970’s he developped a new style of music, based on a synthesis between classical music and elements of jazz and relative styles. To perform the work that resulted from these new ideas, he formed his own ensemble, The Group, in 1972. This ensemble existed for more than 15 years. The Group on fonos.nl.

In 1968 he became active as a pedagogue. As such he did important pioneer's work for the introduction of jazz and other (non-classical) styles of music at the Dutch conservatoires. From 1978 until 1997 he was Professor of Piano and of Composition at the Rotterdam Conservatorium.