Ambient enthusiasts the world over mourn the loss of a prolific composer and poet. Harold Budd passed away at the age of 84 on Monday, December 7th. His cause of death has not been disclosed at the time of writing.
Social media reports of Budd’s death began to come out on Tuesday, and Brooklyn Vegan reported that his close friends John Emr and Shane Cadman confirmed it on Facebook. “My friend Harold Budd passed away last night,” Cadman wrote. “I am so grateful for his music and the times we shared. I was hoping for one more glass of wine together. Rest In Peace Hal.”
Remembering Harold Budd
Harold Budd began his career as a composer in 1962, making a name for himself in the avant-garde community of Southern California. He moved on to drone and minimalism, becoming more known for experimental works like “Coeur d’Orr” and “The Oak of the Golden Dreams.”
The ’80s brought Budd’s biggest breakthrough: his collaborations with ambient figurehead Brian Eno. He would contribute to the artist’s 1980 album Ambient: The Plateaux of Mirror as well as The Pearl in 1984.
No memorial details for Harold Budd have been made public by his friends or loved ones at the time of writing.
