News & Events
April 24, 2022
Christopher Berg will perform a solo recital in the Recital Hall of the University of South Carolina School of Music on Sunday, April 24, 2022 at 3:00 pm. The concert will feature Leo Brouwer's El Decameron Negro, Mauro Giuliani's Grande Ouverture, Op. 61, music from The Pilgrim Forest, and more. The concert is free.
This performance will not be streamed.
March 11, 2022
Christopher Berg performs at the Clemson Guitar Festival at the Brooks Center for the Performing Arts at Clemson University in South Carolina on March 11, 2022 at 7:30.
The festival runs March 11–12. Other artists include Hiroya Tsukamoto, Alex de Grassi, Andrew York, and Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway.
February 11, 2020
The University of South Carolina published “Q&A with Christopher Berg.”
Read the interview to learn his thoughts about expanding the means of musical expression, whether this is done by playing concerts, composing music, or writing books.
July 22, 2021
Christopher Berg is a guest on Karl Wohlwend's fabulous Guitaromanie Podcast! Listen to a freewheeling conversation.
June 2019
Routledge releases Christopher Berg’s Practicing Music by Design: Historic Virtuosi on Peak Performance.
November 2019
Oxford University Press releases Christopher Berg’s The Classical Guitar Companion, a major work for the guitar.
Performing
Christopher Berg’s experience performing early music on lutes and guitars has afforded him a unique perspective when performing the standard classical guitar repertoire. He also believes each artist has a responsibility to create something that never existed before.
Teaching
Although Christopher Berg’s teaching is systematic, he teaches each student rather than a system. His pedagogy unites critical thinking and problem-recognition skills (necessary for problem solving) with refined artistic sensitivity. Read more about his approach to teaching here.
Recordings
The Pilgrim Forest is a musical novel, a wordless story told in music of a traveller who has strayed from the main road in search of truth. Although conceived as an hour-long cycle, each piece also stands alone.
Resources
Here you will find free downloads of scores in the public domain edited by Christopher Berg, teaching handouts, exercises and selected writings.
Books
Christopher Berg has four books in print: The Classical Guitar Companion (OUP), Practicing Music by Design: Historic Virtuosi on Peak Performance (Routledge); Mastering Guitar Technique and Giuliani Revisited (Mel Bay). Learn more here.
Scores
Scores of Christopher Berg’s compositions from The Pilgrim Forest are gradually becoming available. “Lullaby Blue,” “Pavane for All Souls,” and “Waltz of the Hermit” are currently available. More will be added soon.
-
Christopher Berg and Andrés Segovia Los Angeles, 1981
-
"Lullaby Blue" touched me so deeply that the tears kept falling. It was obvious after the Haydn that we were in for a real treat, but I was unprepared for the deep connection to The Pilgrim Forest selections.
—Cindy (SC)
-
We have since bought your CD The Pilgrim Forest and look forward to listening to the whole collection—as soon as we can stop listening to "Lullaby Blue" over and over.
—Sandra (IN)
-
I just want to thank you for your book about guitar technique. I have suffered from dystonia, but now the problems are definitely solved thanks to your writing. You understand the rest! I will always refer to you when I feel that I'm slipping back into my old technique again.
—Bo L. (Sweden)
-
Mr. Berg’s analysis is among the most thorough and professional to come my way…. If you are having real problems playing clearly, efficiently and in a relaxed manner, Mastering Guitar Technique could be the book for you to read and open up your technical know-how.
—Classical Guitar Magazine (Great Britain)
-
Berg’s performance is beautiful. His sound, his sense of progression, and level of artistic intensity are compelling and make repeated hearings of this recording very enjoyable.
—The Soundboard, Journal of The Guitar Foundation of America
-
Christopher Berg gave a stellar display of guitar virtuosity Tuesday night… His technique was awesome!
—Post and Courier (Charleston, SC)
-
Christopher Berg’s Sunday afternoon recital at the Columbia Museum of Art left the standing-room-only crowd eager for more!
—The State (Columbia, SC)
-
The full house was treated to an outstanding performance…. His lyrical phrasing and rich tone exemplified the romantic potential of the guitar in the hands of a master.
—Post and Courier (Charleston, SC)
-
The Rodrigo concerto was electrifying…
hugely enjoyable and freshly played.—The State (Columbia, SC)
-
A man with no technical boundaries, angelic composing abilities, simply breathtaking! This album tells a terrific tale, and is full of imagination. From start to finish, Mr. Berg is able to touch on every human emotion. It is a wonderful contribution to the ever-growing guitar literature.
—Chad
-
Packed with pleasure… expertly played guitars and lutes… wondrously nimble passage work.
—The State (Columbia, SC)
The Classical Guitar Companion
Published by Oxford University Press in November of 2019, The Classical Guitar Companion features over 200 examples, etudes, and pieces organized to help serious guitar students better navigate the shoals of becoming well-trained and expressive artists. It is neither a method, treatise, nor anthology, although it contains elements of each. Rather than try to shepherd each student down the same path, the book allows students to approach their training within a flexible and personal curriculum based upon their weaknesses and strengths.
