Born:
April 1, 1866
Birthplace:
Empoli, near Florence, Italy
Died:
July 27, 1924 in Berlin, Germany
Also Known As:
His full name was Ferruccio Dante Michelangelo Benvenuto Busoni; he was an Italian/German composer and concert pianist of the 20th century.
Type of Compositions:
He mainly wrote music for the piano and opera.
Influence:
Busoni's early influence were his parents; his father was a clarinetist and his mother was a pianist. He learned how to play the piano from his mother. He gave his piano recital when he was 8 years old and conducted one of his compositions when he was 12. Busoni continued his studies in Vienna where he met Brahms. He then moved to Leipzig where he continued to compose and began re-arranging Bach's organ works. Busoni taught piano in Helsinki and then moved to Moscow where he continued teaching. Afterward, he traveled to the United States as a concert pianist before finally settling in Berlin.
Notable Works:
His works include: "Piano Concerto," "Doktor Faust" (left unfinished, completed by Philipp Jarnach), "Die Brautwahl," "Arlecchino," "Turandot," "Fantasia Contrappuntistica," "Konzertstück," "Indianische Fantasie," and Ästhetik der Tonkunst (Sketch of a New Esthetic of Music).
Interesting Facts:
From 1894 onwards, Busoni was involved in a series of orchestral concerts featuring the works of composers like Bartok, DeBussy, Delius and Faure. He also edited the works of other composers including Bach, Beethoven, Chopin and Liszt.
Related Video:
Listen to Chopin's "Prelude No 15, Raindrop" as performed by Ferruccio Busoni.