Role

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Composer  

Birth

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1944

Genre

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Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

Gilbert Biberian was a British composer, guitarist, and educator who was born on January 22, 1944, in London, England. He was the son of Armenian parents who had fled to England during the Armenian Genocide. Biberian grew up in a musical family, and his father was a violinist who played in the London Symphony Orchestra. Biberian began playing the guitar at the age of 11 and was largely self-taught until he began studying with John Williams at the Royal College of Music in London. Biberian's early compositions were influenced by his Armenian heritage, and he often incorporated Armenian folk melodies into his works. He also drew inspiration from other musical traditions, including jazz and Indian classical music. Biberian's compositions were characterized by their intricate harmonies, rhythmic complexity, and use of extended techniques on the guitar. Biberian's first major composition was his Guitar Concerto, which he wrote in 1970. The piece was premiered by the London Symphony Orchestra, with Biberian as the soloist. The concerto was well-received and established Biberian as a composer to watch in the classical music world. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Biberian continued to compose works for the guitar, including solo pieces, chamber music, and concertos. He also collaborated with other musicians, including the Indian sitar player Ravi Shankar and the jazz guitarist John McLaughlin. Biberian's compositions during this period were marked by their eclecticism, as he continued to draw on a wide range of musical traditions. In addition to his work as a composer, Biberian was also a respected guitar teacher and educator. He taught at the Royal College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, as well as at universities in the United States and Canada. Biberian was known for his innovative teaching methods, which emphasized the development of a strong technical foundation and the exploration of different musical styles. Biberian's later compositions were more experimental and avant-garde in nature. He began incorporating electronic and computer-generated sounds into his works, and he also experimented with graphic notation and improvisation. Biberian's later works were often more abstract and less melodic than his earlier compositions, reflecting his interest in exploring new sonic possibilities. Some of Biberian's most notable works include his Guitar Concerto, his Sonata for Guitar, his String Quartet No. 1, and his Three Armenian Dances for Guitar. His music has been performed by many of the world's leading classical guitarists, including John Williams, Julian Bream, and Sharon Isbin. Biberian passed away on April 21, 2020, at the age of 76. He left behind a legacy as a pioneering composer and educator who pushed the boundaries of classical guitar music and inspired generations of musicians.

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