Van Buren composed numerous works for orchestra, various chamber ensembles, choir, electronic music, organ and solo instruments, which have been performed repeatedly in Germany and other European countries as well as in the United States. 

He received commissions from various music festivals and ensembles, and his works have been broadcast on many German radio stations. His extensive collaboration with choreographers and filmmakers led to productions and performances on German national television (ZDF), New York public television, at the opera houses in Mainz, Ulm, Hagen and Osnabrück in Germany, and at important theaters in London and New York City (Carnegie Hall). His works were published by Peer Musikverlag, Hamburg/New York, Carus Verlag Stuttgart, Zimmermann Verlag Frankfurt a. M. and by edition modern in Munich. 

His compositions were performed by the Deutsche Symphonie Orchester Berlin, Radio Sinfonie Orchester Stuttgart, Staatsorchester Kassel, Nümberger Symphoniker, American Composers Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra and the Eugene Symphony.

Other premieres include "Night Scenes", written for the Staatsorchester Kassel, and his Second String Quartet for the Wilanow Quartet, Warsaw.

His " Gloria " was chosen to commemorate the 850th anniversary of the UNESCO Landmark, Kloster Maulbronn, and the Maulbronn Chamber Choir took this piece on tour through Argentina in October 1997. When the choir won the German Choral Competition 1998, this piece was included on the program and became the compulsory composition for the following competition.

In December 1998 Van Buren's Flute Concerto was premiered by Mathias Dittmann and the Augsburg Philharmonic Orchestra under GMD Peter Leonard. In February 1999 "Luxe, calme et volupté" for violoncello and piano, commissioned by the Süddeutscher Rundfunk and premiered at its ECLAT music festival, was deemed a masterpiece by the press.

After his stroke in 2000, he only composed “Psalm 6” for mixed choir (commissioned by the “Irseer Kunstsommer”).