Lukas Foss, a German-born American composer, pianist and conductor, died at his home in Manhattan on Sunday. He was 86 years old. His music has an important place in the world of American composition, along with the music of Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Samuel Barber and Elliott Carter. Mr. Foss was an explorer of the avant-garde, focusing at different times on techniques from serialism and electronic music as well as on Minimalism and improvisation. As a conductor, his specialty was contemporary music.
In addition to his wife Cornelia, he is survived by a son, Christopher, and a daughter, Eliza Foss.
Read the full New York Times article on Lukas Foss here.