Adolf Busch
A violinist of profound integrity who abandoned a thriving German career to protest the Nazi regime, becoming a moral beacon in classical music.
1891–1952 (age 61)·German–Swiss violinist, conductor, and composer·Birthday: August 8·The Lost Generation
Biography
Adolf Busch co-founded the Busch Quartet and later the Marlboro Music School and Festival with his son-in-law Rudolf Serkin. Born in Westphalia into a musical family, his talent was evident from childhood. He rose as a violinist and chamber musician in the vibrant cultural scene of Weimar Germany. In 1933, appalled by the Nazis' rise, he left Germany for Switzerland, refusing to perform in a country that had embraced such ideology. This principled stand damaged his immediate career but defined his legacy as an artist of conscience. He later emigrated to the United States, where he co-founded Marlboro, creating a sanctuary for collaborative music-making that endures today. His playing was noted for its structural clarity and deep humanity.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Adolf was born in 1891, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Adolf Was Born
The biggest hits of 1891
Adolf's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1891Born
President: Benjamin Harrison
1896Started school
First modern Olympic Games held in Athens
President: Grover Cleveland
1904Became a teenager
New York City opens its first subway line
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1907Could drive
Financial panic grips Wall Street
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1909Could vote
Robert Peary claims to reach the North Pole
President: William Howard Taft
1912Turned 21
Titanic sinks on its maiden voyage
President: William Howard Taft
1921Turned 30
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1931Turned 40
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1941Turned 50
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1951Turned 60
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1952Died at 61
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
Key Achievements
- Co-founded the Busch Quartet, one of the preeminent chamber ensembles of the early 20th century.
- Founded the Marlboro Music School and Festival in Vermont, a transformative institution for chamber music.
- Premiered important works including the Violin Concerto by his friend Paul Hindemith.
- Made a series of definitive recordings of the Beethoven and Brahms violin sonatas with pianist Rudolf Serkin.
Did You Know?
He was the brother of the renowned conductor Fritz Busch.
He was a staunch pacifist and became a Swiss citizen in 1935.
His son-in-law was the legendary pianist Rudolf Serkin.
He was a noted composer, writing a violin concerto and several chamber works.
“I will not play in a country that has made music a crime.”
