Anthony Gilbert (composer)

Anthony Gilbert (born 26 July 1934, London; died 9 May 2023) was a British composer of contemporary classical music. He was known for his eclectic style, incorporating elements of atonality, extended techniques, and often engaging with complex rhythmic and textural structures.

Gilbert studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, and subsequently with Alexander Goehr. He also attended the Darmstadt Summer Courses for New Music, which proved influential in his development as a composer. He held teaching positions at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) in Manchester for many years, where he mentored several generations of composers.

His compositional output included orchestral works, chamber music, vocal pieces, and music theater. Key works include The Scene-Machine (1970), Certain Lights Reflect (1978), Mr. Punch (1991), and numerous other pieces commissioned by leading orchestras and ensembles. Gilbert's music has been performed internationally and recorded by various labels. He was awarded the Cobbett Medal for services to chamber music in 2012. He was known for his intellectually rigorous approach to composition combined with a highly individual sound world.