Buss, Howard

Howard Buss

Biography

Born: January 06, 1951

Country: Allentown, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

Studies: West Chester State College (B.A.1972), Michigan State Univ. (M.M.s 1974 &1975), Univ. of Illinois (D.M.A.1977)

Teachers: L. Nelson, H. Owen Reed, Thomas Fredrickson, Salvatore Martirano

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Howard J. Buss (b. 1951) is recognized internationally as a significant composer of contemporary classical music. His compositions have received critical acclaim and have been performed in more than 50 countries. His music is widely performed and frequently featured at national and international music conventions and festivals. They have been performed by faculty musicians from major universities as well as current and former members of prestigious organizations such as The Boston Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic, Israel Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, Vancouver Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, etc. A copy of his patriotic composition Fanfares is included in the Presidential Collection of Ronald Reagan. Buss’ more than 130 published works include instrumental solos, chamber music, symphonic, choral, and band works. They are fast becoming part of the standard repertoire in concert halls.

The legendary Leon Russianoff described Dr. Buss’ style as “imaginative, sincere, rewarding to both performers and audiences, and without the gimmickry which is so prevalent in contemporary music today.” Upon hearing his music critics have written: “By far the night’s most memorable piece” - The Los Angeles Times, “This is truly one of the finest works in our idiom” - Robert McCormick in the Florida Percussive News, and “The evening’s highlight” - The Maine Sunday Telegram.

Buss has received numerous awards and his commissioned works include original compositions as well as arrangements. He is a sought after guest composer, clinician, and contest adjudicator. His works are frequently selected to be included and analyzed in doctoral dissertations, lectures, professional music journals, and music literature bibliographies, and his compositions have been recorded on the Bottega Discantica (Milan, Italy), Crystal, Capstone, DUX (Warsaw, Poland), Equilibrium, HoneyRock, PL Productions, Ravello (PARMA), and C. Alan Publications labels.

Howard J. Buss received his B. A. in Applied Music from West Chester University, M. M. in Performance and M. M. in Composition from Michigan State University, and D.M.A. in Composition from the University of Illinois. He is the founder and editor of Brixton Publications (ASCAP) and Buss Publications (BMI) which publish contemporary American concert music.

Works for Percussion

A Day In The City - Marimba
American Pheonix - Percussion Quartet; Bass Trombone or Tuba
Atmospheres - Multiple Percussion; Trumpet
Behind The Invisible Mask - Multiple Percussion; Bassoon
Boom Time - Multiple Percussion; Trombone
Capriccio (Buss) - Multiple Percussion; Clarinet; Trombone
Coexistence - Percussion Quartet; Clarinet
Crossroads - Percussion Octet; Trombone Choir
Currents - Percussion Trio
De La Madera - Marimba; Oboe
Dream Sequence - Percussion Quartet; Trombone
Escapade - Percussion Quartet; Saxophone
Impromptu - Marimba; Clarinet or Sop. Saxophone
Incantation - Multiple Percussion; Trumpet
Into Each Life - Multiple Percussion; Flute; Cello; Piano
Kaleidoscope (Buss) - Multiple Percussion; Flute
Modern Times - Percussion Quartet; Flute/Piccolo; Narrator
Mysterious Exit - Percussion Quartet; Flute/Piccolo
Night Tide - Marimba; Trombone
Overture for Percussion - (Buss) - Percussion Ensemble
Rendezvous (Buss) - Multiple Percussion; Trumpet(4)
Rite of Passage - Marimba; Flute
Scenes From The Holy Land - Multiple Percussion; Flute
Sci-Fi Percussives - Percussion Ensemble(12)
Sky Blossoms - Multiple Percussion; Flute
Sonic Fables: "Lessons from Aesop" - Multiple Percussion; Brass Quintet
Spanish Memoirs - Percussion Quartet; Trumpet
Stellar Visions - Marimba; Flute
The Big Bang (Buss) - Percussion Sextet; Piano
There Is A Season - Percussion Duo; Clarinet
Two Caprices - Marimba; Flute; Oboe
Wave Train - Marimba; Flute
Where Now Rusts The Iron? - Percussion Quartet; Soprano; Flute; Cello