Music Appreciation
Born on May 24, 1936 in Los Angeles, California, Harold Budd was an American composer and poet, recognized for creating ambient soundscapes.
Budd developed a fascination with music at a young age. Growing up in a touch neighborhood, he found refuge playing in bars and jazz clubs in South Central Los Angeles. He even joined the regimental band where he played drums at Presidio of Monterey (POM), when drafted into the army.
He later enrolled in an architecture course at Los Angeles City College, then switched to a course in harmony and renaissance counterpoint. This path would lead him to a career as a composer.
Budd studied music at California State University, Northridge. He graduated from CSUN, and then went on full scholarship to the University of Southern California. After completing his education, Budd began his career as a composer, working in a variety of genres including jazz, rock, and experimental music.
Budd's breakthrough came in 1978 with the release of his first solo album, "The Pavilion of Dreams." The album was a collaboration with the British ambient musician Brian Eno and showcased Budd's unique approach to ambient music. The album was widely acclaimed and set the stage for Budd's subsequent career.
Over the next few decades, Budd continued to release a string of critically acclaimed albums, including "The Plateaux of Mirror," "The Pearl," and "Lovely Thunder." His music was often characterized by its dreamlike quality, with ethereal textures and subtle melodies creating a sense of otherworldliness.
In addition to his work as a composer, Budd was also a prolific poet, publishing several collections of poetry over the course of his career. His poetry was often as minimalist as his music, with sparse, evocative language creating vivid imagery.
Budd passed away after suffering a stroke and from complications of COVID-19 on December 8, 2020.
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