Modern Times
General Info
Year: 1995
Duration: c. 30:00
Difficulty: Grade V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Brixton
Cost: Score and Parts - $48.50 | Score Only - $0.00
Movements
I. Info Glut (3:34)
II. Night Tide (2:49)
III. The Hunt (4:14)
IV. Five Question Interlude (3:01)
V. The Asphalt Blanket (3:11)
VI. To a Neglected Child (5:25)
VII. Giggles!?! (1:57)
VIII. Modern Times (5:26)
Instrumentation
Player I: Xylophone, lion roar, tam-tam, vibraslap, 2 suspended cymbals, Chinese bell tree, and bongos
Player II: Marimba, snare drum, bass drum, 2 anvils (metal pipes may be substituted), glass jug or jars (to be broken for the sonic effect), conga drum, wind chimes, and triangle
Player III: Vibraphone, roto toms, tambourine, tam-tam, police whistle, shaker, duck call
Player IV: Orchestra bells, timpani (4), agogo bells, 2 suspended cymbals, hi-hat, wind chimes, wood block, frog croak (may be imitated vocally), boing box effect (a flexitone may be substituted), triangle and guiro
Flute
Narrator
Program Notes
MODERN TIMES (1995) for narrator, flute, and four percussion (words and music by Howard J. Buss) is a powerful and dramatic depiction of life in our time. Provocative, at times mystical, and occasionally humorous, this work addresses an eclectic range of subjects such as taxes, neglected children, team mascots, and the information glut.
“The tenor of Buss’ social commentary is somewhere between the witty jeering of Mark Twain and the pithy insights of Sinclair Lewis. In his free verse one finds provocation without violence and intense anger without profanity.” - The Tampa Tribune.
The sophisticated music of MODERN TIMES transports the poetry into the dramatic and colorful sound world of the flute and percussion ensemble. The result is a unique and fresh view of the culture(s) in which we live.
“The writing is mature and fresh, yet is within reach of a solid college ensemble.” - George Frock, Percussive Notes Magazine
“This work is well-paced, colorful and accessible to audiences not familiar with complex percussion literature.This is truly one of the finest works in our idiom.” Robert McCormick, Florida Percussive News The 8 movements of MODERN TIMES may be performed individually or in smaller groupings depending upon time limitations.[1]
Commercial Discography
Recorded on the Capstone Records CD HOWARD J. BUSS:MODERN TIMES available from Brixton.
Recent Performances
To submit a performance please join the TEK Percussion Database
Works for Percussion by this Composer
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
Additional Resources
References