Michael William Gilbert

Michael William Gilbert, a composer, incorporates influences from world music into his electronic compositions that evoke warmth. Raised across Connecticut and Brussels, he encountered the sounds of Africa and East Asia early on, alongside electronic works by Edgard Varèse and Pierre Henry. Upon returning to the United States, Gilbert pursued studies in both electrical engineering and music, later serving as an instructor and technical director of electronic music at multiple colleges, among them the University of Massachusetts. That connection with the university persisted across his many years of creative output. His debut release, Moving Pictures, appeared in 1978 on Gibex, the same imprint that issued his recordings throughout the 1980s. The follow-up, The Call (1981), featured contributions from percussionist David Moss and additional players. Since then, Gilbert has composed the score for an independent film directed by Peter Hobbs, worked alongside various skilled musicians such as master percussionist Tony Vacca, and seen his pieces adopted by numerous choreographers.