The State
Columbia, SC
September 10, 2000
by William W. Starr

Berg, The Pilgrim Forest.
Christopher Berg, solo guitar. Laughing Heart Records LHR-617 (62 minutes): Christopher Berg long has been a welcome fixture on Columbia's music scene, as a virtuoso performer on a variety of string instruments and an outstanding teacher at the USC School of Music. His new CD, seven years in the making, reveals his considerable artistry as composer for the guitar.

The varied music on "The Pilgrim Forest" has a strong lyric and rhythmic pulse, alternately gentle and dramatic, cunningly paced. It seems very personal music, though that is not intended as any sort of derogation or to suggest any lack of accessibility for listeners who will accept this as Berg's creative vision.

The composer has contributed brief notes to each of the 10 works on the disc which suggest a journey through a new geography with accompanying feelings of loss ("Pavane for All Souls") and joy ("DayStar's Dance") and reflection ("Lullaby Blue"). Berg conveys [an] exultant yet subtle control of this music, and his performance is nothing less than radiant and compelling.

In short, this is an album of powerful, personal expressiveness that should enjoy wide appeal. And it had been excellently recorded as well. Berg can be heard performing in the USC September Series concerts this month.