Howard J. Buss (born in 1951]) is an American composer of contemporary classical music. Buss’ works include instrumental solos, chamber music, symphonic, choral, and band works.[1] His music has received awards, including from the 2011 Lieksa Brass Week Composition Competition in Finland, the 2015 American Trombone Workshop National Composition Competition,[2] the National Flute Association’s Newly-Published Music Competition, the Erik Satie Mostly Tonal Award, State of Florida Fellowships, ASCAP Plus Awards.,[3] and The American Prize.[4]
In 1985, Buss established Brixton Publications (ASCAP) and Howard J. Buss Publications (BMI). The catalogs expanded to accommodate his compositions and those of other American composers. The companies were sold to Cimarron Music Press in New London, Connecticut, in October 2021. Buss continues to accept commissions to compose new compositions.
Works
The following is a partial chronological list of Buss' works:[7] A complete list is at http://www.howardbuss.com
Camel Music for solo trombone, 1975
Coexistence for clarinet and 4 percussion, 1983
Trombone Concerto version for trombone and piano, 1985 and version for trombone and band, 1986
Sonic Fables: “Lessons from Aesop” for brass quintet and one percussion, 1992
Modern Times for narrator, flute, and four percussion, duration: 30’, 1995
Millennium Visions for clarinet and string quartet, 2000
The Heavens Awaken for bassoon and string quartet, 2009
Cosmic Portraits in 2 versions: for flute, clarinet, alto sax, and tenor sax; and flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon, 2010
Brom Bones in versions for trombone octet, 2005; and 10-part brass choir, 2010
Three Euphonics for solo euphonium, 2011
Jazzical #4 for horn, trombone, tuba, and piano, 2012
Crossroads for trombone choir and percussion ensemble, 2012
St. Francis and the Animals for flute, clarinet, and harp, 2013
Energico for band, 2014
Reflective Journey" for horn and 4 percussion, 2015
Alien Loop de Loops for trombone and electronic recording, 2015
Constellations for flute, piano, and percussion, 2015
The Enchanted Garden for bassoon and string trio, 2016
Interstellar for horn, tuba, and electronic recording, 2016
Zephyrs of the Dawn for flute choir, 2017
Serendipity Suite for trumpet, trombone, and piano, 2017
Another World Stood Here for flute choir, 2018
Concerto for Marimba and Percussion Ensemble 2018
Into the Hall of Valor for horn and band, 2018
Brass Miniatures for brass quintet, 7'33", 2019
Concertante in 2 versions: for euphonium, tuba, and piano; and euphonium, tuba, and orchestra 9', 2019
Reflections on the "Last Post" in 2 versions: for tuba and piano; and tuba and band 8', 2019
Totally Tubular for oboe/English horn and trumpet/flugelhorn, 8'05", 2019
Bassoonisms for 4 bassoons, 8', 2019
Reflections on the "Last Post in 2 versions: for clarinet and piano; and clarinet and band, 8'05", 2019
Skylines for flute, oboe, English horn, clarinet, bass clarinet, and bassoon, 10'30", 2019
Aquarius for saxophone trio (alto, tenor & baritone) 7', 2020
Sonic Tapestries for violin, alto sax, and piano, 11'15", 2020
Visitations from the Dark for alto sax, bass clarinet, and piano, 11'30", 2020
Color'tudes for bass clarinet and piano, 2021
Divergences for clarinet and viola, 2021
Gemtones for two clarinets and bassoon (or bass clarinet), 2021
On the Stroke of Midnight for solo horn, 2021
Tribute to Stephen Foster for brass quintet, 2021
La Sonata modello for solo piano, 2021
Toccata and Retro-Invention for solo piano, 2021
Trigon for trumpet, trombone, and tuba, 2021
Concerto for Bassoon and Orchestra, 2022
Island of Enchantment: 5 Vignettes from Puerto Rico for flute, clarinet, horn, bassoon & piano, 2023
Spring Reverie for viola, cello, and bassoon, 2023
Suite Amici for flute/alto flute, and oboe/English horn, 2023
Cadenzas and Interludes #1 for violin and alto saxophone, 2023
A Middle-aged Man and His Two Mistresses for baritone voice and alto saxophone, 2023
One Night for clarinet, tenor saxophone, and piano, 2023
Sonatina of Remembrance for oboe and piano, 2023
Three Contemplations for wind quintet, 2023
Dances and Interludes for guitar and string quartet, 2024
Enigmatic Triptych for brass trio, 2024
Discography
Alien Loop de Loops for horn and electronic recording on ALIEN LOOP DE LOOPS, performed by Erika Loke, available on Spotify, Amazon, and Apple Music.
Alpine Spring for flute and harp on the CD "Flauto e arpa" from Bottega Discantica Records of Milan, Italy. Performed by Elena Cecconi, flute; and Paola Devoti, harp. "Flauto e arpa” BDI 188.
Atmospheres for trumpet and one percussion is recorded on 3 different CDs - PL Productions DT002 - ATMOSPHERES, performed by Sheryl Linch, trumpet, and Don N. Parker, percussion; and on IBS Classical Records (Spain) - SPANISH MEMOIRS, performed by Diego Arias, trumpet and Yu-Jung Chung, percussion - INCANTATION by the Samodai-Szives Duo of Budapest, Hungary.
Awakening for solo harp on the CD, JEWISH MEMORIES, performed by harpist Paola Devoti on La Bottega Discantica Records (Milan, Italy) BDI 248.
Ballad for bass trombone and piano MOVING ON featuring Jonathan Warburton on bass trombone.
Cosmic Portraits for flute, clarinet, alto sax, and tenor sax - COSMIC PORTRAITS - available on Spotify and Apple Music, performed by flutist Caterina Stocchi, clarinetist Antonio Fraioli, and saxophonists Caterina Villari and Emma Nicòl Pigato.
Currents for four percussion - Capstone Records CPS-8735 - HOWARD J. BUSS: MODERN TIMES.
Dances and Interludes for solo guitar - NIGHT DANCES - 4-Tay Records CD4061, performed by Robert Phillips.
Dragon Flight for flute and piano - FLUTE AND PIANO - La Bottega Discantica Records (Milan, Italy) BDI 237, performed by Elena Cecconi, flauto and Federico Brunello, piano.
Fantasie for flute and piano - DUX Recording Producers, Warszawa, POLAND - on the CD FANTAISIE, performed by Agata Igras-Sawicka,flute, and Mariusz Rutkowski, piano - DUX 0658.
Four Miniatures for two bassoons - DUETTINO - Soundview Multimedia CD. Performed by Arnold Irchai and Tama Kott.
Hurricane! for solo flute - FLAUTOSOLO from Bottega Discantica Records of Milan, Italy. Performed by Elena Cecconi. "FlautoSolo" BDI 187.
Incantation for trumpet and percussion - recorded on four different CDs: on PL Productions DT001 - DOUBLE TAKE featuring Sheryl Linch, trumpet, and Don N. Parker, percussion; on Equilibrium Records EQ58 OLD NEWS - New Music for Trumpet and Percussion, performed by Steven Dunn and John Pennington; on IBS Classical (Spain) Records SPANISH MEMOIRS, performed by Diego Arias, trumpet, and Yu-Jung Chung, percussion and on INCANTATION by the Samodai-Szives Duo of Budapest, Hungary.
Modern Times for flute, narrator and 4 percussion - Capstone Records CPS-8735 - HOWARD J. BUSS: MODERN TIMES.
Moon Glow for flute and piano - on the CD "SOGNANDO LO SPAZIO - Performed by Elena Cecconi and Tim Carey- Urania Records (Italy)
Mysterious Exit for solo flute and percussion quartet - C. Alan Publications Label PREMIERS, VOL. 1, performed by Kim McCormick, flute, with the University of South Florida Percussion Ensemble.
Night Flight for piccolo, clarinet, and piano - Crystal Records CD713 - TAKE WING, performed by Lois Bliss Herbine, piccolo; Allison Herz, clarinet; and Charles Abramovic, piano.
Night Tide for trombone and marimba - IBS Classical Records (Spain) SPANISH MEMOIRS, performed by Manuel Quesada Benitez, trombone, and Yu-Jung Chung, marimba.
Overture for Percussion (4 percussion) - Capstone Records CPS-8735 - HOWARD J. BUSS: MODERN TIMES.
Pipe Dream for solo flute - Capstone Records CPS-8721 - TWILIGHT REMEMBERED: The McCormick Duo, Kim McCormick, flute.
Rite of Passage for solo marimba - IBS Classical Records (Spain) - SPANISH MEMOIRS, performed by Yu-Jung Chung, marimba.
Scenes from the Holy Land (flute and percussion) - Capstone Records CPS-8735 - HOWARD J. BUSS: MODERN TIMES.
Seaside Reflections for flute and harp - Albany Records - ALLUME, performed by Brian Luce, flute, and Carrol McLaughlin, harp.
Sonic Fables: Lessons from Aesop - Granada Brass B-12180-2021 - 20, performed by the Granada Brass with Ana Hernandez Sanchiz, narrator and Yolanda Chung, percussion.
Spanish Memoirs on IBS Classical Records (Spain) - SPANISH MEMOIRS, performed by Diego Arias, trumpet and percussionists Yu-Jung Chung, Antonio Jose Herrera Molina, Daniel Jesus Martin, and Jorge Cano Rodriguez.
Stellar Visions for flute and marimba - Ravello Records (PARMA) RR-7814 - MCDUO, performed by the McCormick Duo.
Three Character Sketches for solo viola -THREE CHARACTER SKETCHES- performed by Emanuel Oliveri, available on Spotify.
Venetian Memoirs for solo flute, the third movement "The Train Ride Home" - De Ferrari Publications (Genoa, Italy) - ARABESCHI E GEOMETRIE performed by Elena Cecconi.
Wave Train for flute and marimba - HoneyRock RM01 - PREMIERS PLUS ONE The McCormick Flute and Percussion Duo; and by the Windstruck Duo (Ana Laura González, flute; and Julie Licata, percussion) on “RECIPROCITY 3”
Personal life
After receiving his doctorate in 1977, Buss and his wife, Judy, moved to Lakeland, Florida, where they resided until July, 2023.[8] They currently reside in Emmaus, Pennsylvania.
^Cordeiro, Monivette. "Composer's Muses Found on Earth, Heavens". "Composer's Muses Found on Earth, Heavens": Composer Profile. Polk Life Magazine. pp. 52, 53, 60. Retrieved 2015-11-01.