BUSONI, FERRUCCIO (1866-1924), Italian pianist and Composer, was born at Empoli, near Florence. After studying in Vienna and at Graz, he became a member of the Accademia Filar monica of Bologna. In 1888 he was appointed professor at Hel singfors, and in 1890 became professor at the Moscow Conserva toire. His concerts in different countries brought him world-wide fame as a virtuoso. In 1913 he became director of the Liceo Musicale at Bologna, and in 1920 of the Meisterklasse for com position in Berlin, where he died. As a pianist Busoni possessed a superb mastery over the keyboard, probably unequalled since the time of Liszt, together with a great sense' of beauty. His com positions include an opera, Brautwahl (1913), chamber music, orchestral works, piano solos and songs. His brilliant and schol arly arrangements, notably of Bach's "well-tempered clavichord," have been invaluable to pianists; while his talent as a writer is shown in his essays, which include Entwurf einer Neuen Asthetik der Tonkunst (1q16).
BIBLIOGRAPHY. See H. Leichtentritt, F. Busoni (1q16), and G. Bibliography. See H. Leichtentritt, F. Busoni (1q16), and G. Seldon-Goth, F. Busoni (1922).