Currents (Buss)

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Composer Name

Howard Buss

General Info

Year: 1976
Duration: c. 14:00
Difficulty: Grade V - VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Brixton
Cost: Score and Parts - $38.50   |   Score Only - $0.00

Instrumentation

Player I: Anvils(2), cow bells(2), snare drum, suspended cymbals, tambourine, timpano(28"), xylophone, glass wind chimes
Player II: Hi-hat, maracas, suspended cymbal, triangle, tam tam, tom-toms(4), vibraphone
Player III: Bass drum, guiro, marimba, sizzle cymbal, suspended cymbal, temple blocks(5), triangle
(conductor needs a wood saw and a 2X4 section to cut)

Program Notes

CURRENTS (1976) for 4 percussion by Howard J. Buss is divided into four main sections and explores various perspectives of the principles of timbral and metric modulation. Timbral and metric “currents” in the music interact and blend in a manner analogous to currents in physical mediums. In addition, there is an element of implied theater. As the work begins, three percussionists are conducted in the traditional manner by the fourth. Next to the conductor, clearly visible in front of the main percussion battery, is a wooden board bridging two saw horses and a carpenter’s hand saw. These sit idly through much of the work, long enough to arouse curiosity in the audience as to the role of these prominently displayed construction objects. About midway through the composition the conductor lifts the saw overhead and strikes it. This serves as a cutoff gesture and also establishes that the saw is an “extension” of the conductor’s baton. The saw remains idle until the beginning of the fourth division of the work. During the final section it is used simultaneously as a “baton” and a percussion instrument by the director, who saws through wood, scrapes the saw’s teeth, slaps it on the board, strikes it with a mallet, and waves it in the air. At the very end of the work the conductor sets down the saw and walks behind the players to play the tam-tam. In doing so, he continues to direct the ensemble through the explosive conclusion. Percussion distribution: Percussion 1: 2 anvils (metal pipes may be substituted), 2 cow bells, snare drum, 2 suspended cymbals, tambourine, timpani (1), xylophone, and wind chimes; Percussion 2: hi-hat, maracas, 2 suspended cymbals, triangle, large tam-tam, 4 tom toms, and vibraphone; Percussion 3: Bass drum, guiro, marimba, 2 suspended cymbals, temple blocks, and triangle; Percussion 4 (conductor): Carpenter’s saw, a 2x2” wooden board, and 2 saw horses. “A memorable combination of percussive artistry and theatrical class “ - The Washington Post.

Commercial Discography

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

Solo Works

A Day In The City - Marimba
Concerto For Marimba And Percussion Ensemble

Marimba Solo With Other Instruments Works

De La Madera - Marimba; Oboe
Impromptu - Marimba; Clarinet or Sop. Saxophone
Night Tide - Marimba; Trombone
Rite of Passage - Marimba; Flute
Stellar Visions - Marimba; Flute
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
Incantation - Multiple Percussion; Trumpet
Into Each Life - Multiple Percussion; Flute; Cello; Piano
Kaleidoscope (Buss) - Multiple Percussion; 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

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