Busch, Adolf (1891–1952)

German violinist and composer. In 1919 he formed a string quartet with which he toured all over the world, notably performing music by Beethoven. He was also famous as an interpreter of violin and piano sonatas with the pianist Rudolf Serkin. He was the brother of the conductor Fritz Busch.

He studied at Cologne Conservatory and composition with Hugo Grüters at Bonn. In 1918 he became violin professor at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik. In 1933 he renounced German citizenship as a protest against Nazi rule; he moved to the USA in 1939 and founded the Marlboro School of Music in 1950.

Works choral, orchestral, and much chamber music.