Rite of Passage
General Info
Year: 1995
Duration: c. 5:45
Difficulty: Grade V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Brixton
Cost: Score Only - $6.95
Instrumentation
Program Notes
RITE OF PASSAGE (1995) for solo marimba by Howard J. Buss. This “tour de force” features flashy passages of driving intensity with a haunting, mystical central section. “A challenging solo that is worth consideration for the advanced recital program. - Percussive Notes.[1] For centuries composers have written works in a free style intended to exhibit the capabilities of a particular instrument and/or performer. Frequently given titles such as fantasia, toccata, prelude, and capriccio, these compositions often have a rhapsodic, improvisatory character. RITE OF PASSAGE for solo marimba by Howard J. Buss is very much a modern toccata cast in three contrasting sections. The opening and closing segments of this colorful composition contain frequent changes of themes, irregular phase construction, and the occasional insertion of dance like passages. The result is music which is capricious, exuberant, and improvisatory in nature. The haunting, slow central section features sustained tremolos and four-part harmony. The angelic atmosphere is created in part by harmonics resulting when mallets of the specified hardness are played in the lower register of the instrument at a low dynamic level. RITE OF PASSAGE provides a variety of technical challenges for the percussionist.T he musical texture frequently shifts among one, two, three, and four-part writing. Wide melodic register shifts at times force the performer into cross-stick patterns. Extended tremolos and ostinati occur in both hands requiring considerable dexterity and stamina. RITE OF PASSAGE is dedicated to percussionist Robert McCormick. It was recorded by Yu-Jung Chung on the CD “Spanish Memoirs” on the IBS Classical label.
Commercial Discography
Recorded by Yu-Jung Chung on the CD “Spanish Memoirs” on the IBS Classical label.
Recent Performances
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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
Worlds on the Edge - Vibraphone; Trumpet/Flugelhorn; Trombone
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
Constellations (Buss) - Multiple Percussion; Flute; Piano
Crystal Miniatures - Drumset; Clarinet
Divertissements - Multiple Percussion; Clarinet
Emanations - Drumset; Two Bassoons
Emanations for Two Euphoniums (or Euphonium and Tuba) and Drumset - Drumset; Two Euphoniums (or Euphonium and Tuba)
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 Phoenix - Percussion Quartet; Bass Trombone or Tuba
Coexistence - Percussion Quartet; Clarinet
Crossroads - Percussion Octet; Trombone Choir
Dream Sequence - Percussion Quartet; Trombone
Eclipse (Buss) - Percussion Trio; Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Trumpet, French horn, Trombone
Escapade - Percussion Quartet; Saxophone
Modern Times - Percussion Quartet; Flute/Piccolo; Narrator
Mysterious Exit - Percussion Quartet; Flute/Piccolo
Reflective Journey - Percussion Quartet; French horn
Spanish Memoirs - Percussion Quartet; Trumpet
Spectrum (Buss) - Percussion Quartet; Bass Clarinet
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
References