Atmospheres
General Info
Year: 2005
Duration: c. 10:30
Difficulty: Grade V-VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Brixton
Cost: Score and Parts - $26.50 | Score Only - $0.00
Movements
Instrumentation
Multiple Percussion: marimba (to low A), two suspended cymbals, bongos, temple blocks, tambourine, maracas, wood block, tam-tam, cow bell, triangle
Program Notes
ATMOSPHERES (2005) for trumpet/flügelhorn and one percussion by Howard J. Buss is a colorful, dramatic, and captivating duo in three movements: The Wakening; One Sunday, Long Ago; and On-the-Edge. It was commissioned by the Double Take Duo. The first movement begins with a mysterious and turbulent section featuring dramatic contrasts of dynamics and mood. Eventually this gives way to passages with a hint of playfulness. The movement culminates in an intriguing dance-like section with a distinctively Latin flare. One Sunday, Long Ago is divided into two main parts: the first uses lyrical, soaring melodies played on the Flügelhorn over a delicate ostinato on the maracas. Notable about the percussion part in this section is that the percussionist also plays the bongos and tambourine (setting on a table) with the bodies of the maracas, and the suspended cymbals with the butts of the maraca handles. The movement ends with an intriguing interplay between the marimba and the Flügelhorn,creating a beautiful, and almost meditative, atmosphere. The final movement is energetic, highly dramatic, and is obviously influenced by jazz. The percussion instruments employed include marimba (to low A), two suspended cymbals, bongos, temple blocks, tambourine, maracas, wood block, tam-tam, cow bell, and triangle. The marimba part calls predominately for two-mallet technique.When four mallets are employed (in the third movement) sparingly, they are used in repeated chordal patterns. Atmospheres is a sophisticated work with audience appeal!
Commercial Discography
Atmospheres is recorded on the Double Take Duo CD ATMOSPHERES (available from Brixton Publications - CD110, see below).
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