Jazzical 8b
General Info
Year: 2025
Duration: c. 14:30
Difficulty: Grade V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Brixton
Cost: Score and Parts - $32.00 | Score Only - $0.00
Movements
I. Lyrical Convergences (duration 4’58”)
II. Enchanted Chroma (duration 3’25”)
III. Lilty (duration 3’32”)
IV. Fusion Fantasia (duration 3’38")
Instrumentation
Program Notes
Jazzical #8 “Four Synergies” for violin, alto saxophone, and marimba by Howard J. Buss was composed during the fall of 2025 for Drs. Rachael Fischer, violin; Stephen Fischer, alto sax; and Todd Mueller, marimba. It was premiered by these artists on April 6, 2026 at Georgia Gwinnet College in Lawrenceville, Georgia. This work may be played on a 4-octave marimba. The percussionist has a choice to read from the score or the marimba part. The mallets to be used are left to the discretion of the performer.
Often the technical and spiritual elements that determine a particular musical style overlap with the traits of other styles. I have always been interested in the fine line(s) that can separate one style of music from another. Many of my compositions over the years explore and celebrate the similarities and differences among musical styles. For example, my Capriccio for clarinet, trombone and percussion includes an extended section of twelve-tone Dixieland; Mysterious Exit for flute and percussion ensemble combines elements of Hopi social dance songs with serialism; and, Traditions for violin, clarinet, guitar, and string bass is a synthesis of elements of Klezmer music with those from mainstream Western concert music.
In the case of Jazzical #8 for violin, alto sax, and marimba, elements of modern classical music and jazz are juxtaposed in a way to sometimes blur the lines between the styles. The “#8” in the title recognizes the kindred predecessors of this composition: Three Jazzicals, (published in versions for trumpet and tuba, clarinet and tuba, and soprano sax and tuba,) Jazzical #4 for horn, trombone, tuba, and piano, Jazzical #5 for euphonium, tuba and piano, Jazzical #6 in versions for solo alto sax and sax quartet, and solo alto sax and piano; Jazzical #7 “Latin Vibes” for string quartet, piano, bass, and drums; and Jazzical #8 for flute, cello, and marimba.
Commercial Discography
Recent Performances
To submit a performance please join the TEK Percussion Database
Works for Percussion by this Composer
Solo Works
A Day In The City - Marimba
Concerto For Marimba And Percussion Ensemble (Buss)
Rite of Passage - Marimba
Marimba or Vibraphone Solo With Other Instruments Works
De La Madera - Marimba; Oboe
Dreams from the Shadows - Vibraphone; French horn
Impromptu - Marimba; Clarinet or Sop. Saxophone
Jazzical 8 - Marimba; Flute; Cello
Jazzical 8b - Marimba; Violin; Alto Saxophone
Night Tide - Marimba; Trombone
Night Tide (Buss) - Marimba; French horn
Stellar Visions - Marimba; Flute
Sylvan Magic - Vibraphone; Clarinet
Two Caprices - Marimba; Flute; Oboe
Wave Train - Marimba; Flute
Multiple Percussion Solo with Other Instrument Works
Atmospheres - Multiple Percussion; Trumpet
Behind The Invisible Mask - Multiple Percussion; Bassoon
Boom Time - Multiple Percussion; Trombone
Capriccio (Buss) - Multiple Percussion; Clarinet; Trombone
Crystal Miniatures - Drumset; Clarinet
Divertissements - Multiple Percussion; Clarinet
Incantation - Multiple Percussion; Trumpet
Into Each Life - Multiple Percussion; Flute; Cello; Piano
Jazzical #7: Latin Vibes - Drum set solo; String Quartet; Piano; String Bass
Kaleidoscope (Buss) - Multiple Percussion; Flute
Metamorphosis (Buss) - Drum Set Solo; Flute
Rendezvous (Buss) - Multiple Percussion; Trumpet(4)
Scenes From The Holy Land - Multiple Percussion; Flute
Sky Blossoms - Multiple Percussion; Flute
Sonic Fables: "Lessons from Aesop" - Multiple Percussion; Brass Quintet
Soundscapes (Buss) - Drumset; Saxophone (alto doubling on tenor)
Ventures - Multiple Percussion (one or two players); Euphonium
Percussion Ensemble With Other Instruments Works
American Pheonix - Percussion Quartet; Bass Trombone or Tuba
Coexistence - Percussion Quartet; Clarinet
Crossroads - Percussion Octet; Trombone Choir
Dream Sequence - Percussion Quartet; Trombone
Escapade - Percussion Quartet; Saxophone
Modern Times - Percussion Quartet; Flute/Piccolo; Narrator
Mysterious Exit - Percussion Quartet; Flute/Piccolo
Spanish Memoirs - Percussion Quartet; Trumpet
There Is A Season - Percussion Duo; Clarinet
Where Now Rusts The Iron? - Percussion Quartet; Soprano; Flute; Cello
Percussion Ensemble Works
Currents (Buss) - Percussion Quartet
Overture for Percussion - (Buss) - Percussion Ensemble
Sci-Fi Percussives - Percussion Ensemble(12)
The Big Bang (Buss) - Percussion Sextet; Piano
Additional Resources
http://www.howardbuss.com/percussion-4.html
References
http://www.howardbuss.com/percussion-4.html
https://www.cimarronmusic.com/jazzical8foursynergiesviolinsaxmarimba