Sir Carl Busch Papers

Carl Busch was born in Bjerre, Denmark on March 29, 1862. He attended the University of Copenhagen to study law before deciding to devote himself to the study of music at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Copenhagen. Busch immigrated to Kansas City, Missouri in January 1887, on the advice of the Danish Consul, Thyge Sogard. Sogard had been promoting opportunities for musicians in the rapidly growing Kansas City area. Busch met his wife, Sallie Smith, in Kansas City and married her on December 28, 1888.

During his life in Kansas City, Busch was employed as a conductor and composer. His fame as a composer was due to his unique compositions that were inspired by Native American music. Busch was also a member of the faculty at the University of Kansas City, now University of Missouri-Kansas City. In 1912, the King of Denmark named Busch a Knight of Danneborg which bestowed the title Sir Carl Busch. Music was not Busch’s only activity. He was a man of many hobbies, flower collecting and fishing chief amongst them. Bush continued to compose and be involved with music up to his death in December 19, 1943.