As a pianist, Robert Nasveld specialised in twentieth-century repertoire with a preference for Dutch, Russian and American music. For example, Nasveld thoroughly immersed himself in the piano works of the American composer George Crumb. In addition to his career as a performing pianist, which he had to end prematurely due to multiple sclerosis, Robert Nasveld has built up a richly varied oeuvre as a composer.
After winning the Composition Prize in 1981, Nasveld wanted, in his own words, to ”continue with the achievements of the twentieth century”, in which tonality as a sound idiom is given an important role.
Characteristic of Nasveld’s refined tonal style are often intertwining and shifting thematic layers. “Instruments then play the same music, but in a different metre”, says the composer. From 1997 onwards, Nasveld became more and more interested in greater compositional transparency with a clearer beat. Spontaneity and a much more angular way of composing are some of the characteristics of Nasveld’s later style.