Gilbert Biberian (b. 1944)

Monogram

Gilbert Biberian is one of the foremost performers, composers, and pedagogues in the guitar world today. While he has spent most of life based in London, where he has appeared in the soundtracks to James Bond films alongside a distinguished concert career, many of his works are inspired by his Greek and Armenian heritage. Monogram, written in 1977, presents an unusual appearance on first reading, as there are no rhythms or note lengths written. Instead, Biberian provides general instructions for the duration of specific sections and leaves it up to the performer to sculpt the exact timing and pacing of the piece, which falls into four large sections: slow, fast, slow, and even slower. The result is a piece with the potential to reinvent itself anew each time—and a unique challenge and reward for the performer.