Harold Budd

Harold Budd (May 24, 1936 – December 8, 2020) was an American composer and pianist associated with ambient and minimalist music. He is known for his piano-centered, spacious works and collaborations with Brian Eno and others.

Budd worked extensively from the 1960s until his death in 2020. He collaborated with Brian Eno (notably on Ambient 2: The Plateaux of Mirror and The Pearl) and with artists including the Cocteau Twins and John Foxx. Reviews emphasize his use of silence, pedal-based piano textures, dreamlike atmospheres, and influences discussed in criticism such as John Cage, La Monte Young and visual parallels to Mark Rothko.

DeBaser reviews present Harold Budd as a principal voice in ambient and minimalist piano work. Reviewers emphasize dreamlike atmospheres, use of silence and pedal, and notable collaborations (especially with Brian Eno). The reception on DeBaser is largely admiring and poetic.

For:Listeners of ambient, minimalism and contemporary classical piano; readers who enjoy poetic, contemplative music criticism.