Flute Chamber Music Quartets by Howard J. Buss

Flute in chamber music - quartets  Works are listed in alphabetical order, durations are in parenthesis:

CONSTELLATIONS for flute, piano, and percussion (1 or 2 players) was inspired by the awesome grandeur and beauty of the cosmos. The forward thrust, narrative quality, and colorful ambience of the music suggest the musicians are on a wondrous journey exploring a series of star systems. The juxtaposition of agitated chromatic passages and tonal, focused sections is analogous to the experience of viewing up-close, seemingly chaotic, space "debris" (dust, rocks, gas, etc.) as contrasted with the beauty and exquisite organization of star systems viewed from afar. (13’15”)
Grade V-VI.
YouTube performance - Score sample.pdf

Music available from Cimarron Music Press

 COSMIC PORTRAITS (2009) in versions for flute, clarinet, alto sax, and tenor sax and flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon consists of 3 movements inspired by views of objects in the Milky Way galaxy. The titles of the first 2 movements, The Backbone of Night and The Pale Blue Dot are taken from the writings of astrophysicist, Carl Sagan. In his book, Cosmos, he describes how the !Kung Bushman in Botswana refer to the Milky Way as “the backbone of night.” The spine of the Milky Way often appears directly over the Kalahari Desert. The !Kung believe it to be the structural foundation of the heavens and that one of its functions in relation to Earth, among many, is that it holds up the darkness. In The Pale Blue Dot Sagan poetically describes a view of Earth from a distant point in our galaxy. He puts our worldly concerns into cosmic perspective when he refers to all that has ever happened to human beings as occurring “on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.” The final movement, Orbitals, suggests celestial bodies revolving around one another in a fascinating cosmic dance. Moons orbiting planets, planets around suns, suns around other suns culminate in the swirling wonder of our galaxy. (18’10”) Grade V.
YouTube videos: Movement 1., Movement 2., Movement 3.

Score Samples: Movement_1.pdf; Movement_2.pdf; Movement_3.pdf

Sound Samples (flute, clarinet alto sax & tenor sax version): Movement 1.mp3; Movement 2.mp3;
Movement 3.mp3

version for flute, clarinet, alto sax & tenor sax - Music available from Cimarron Music Press
Recorded on the album "Cosmic Portraits" by flutist Caterina Stocchi, clarinetist Antonio Fraioli, and saxophonists Caterina Villari and Emma Nicòl Pigato. Available from Apple Music and Spotify.

version for woodwind quartet (flute, clarinet, oboe & bassoon)
- Music available from Cimarron Music Press

DRY BONES

version for four flutes (3 C & one alto) - Music available from Cimarron Music Press

version for woodwind quartet (flute, clarinet, oboe & bassoon)
- Music available from Cimarron Music Press

FESTIVAL (1996) by Howard J. Buss exudes a contagious optimism. This work combines soaring lyricism and exciting contrasts. Everyone in the ensemble has a interesting part. It is a memorable and upbeat concert piece and makes a joyous musical offering in church. (6'20") Grade V.

version for flute/piccolo, 2 C flutes, and alto flute - Music available from Cimarron Music Press

version for flute/piccolo, C flute & 2 B-flat clarinets - Music available from Cimarron Music Press

INTO EACH LIFE (1997) for flute, cello, piano and one percussion by Howard J. Buss was commissioned by The Florida Flute Association and the Brannen-Cooper Fund as a tribute to the renown flutist Albert Tipton. It is in 2 main sections, the first juxtaposes lyrical and turbulent passages. The second section takes the form of a joyous fugue. The instrumentation includes vibes, orch. bells, cymbals, tam-tam, bongos, wood block and tambourine.
(11’) Grade V.
Score Sample.pdf;  Percussion Set-up Chart.pdf

Sound Samples: Excerpt 1.mp3; Excerpt 2.mp3; Excerpt 3.mp3  - YouTube video

Music available from Cimarron Music Press

PRELUDE AND INTRADA for woodwind quartet (flute, oboe, clarinet, & bassoon) by Howard J. Buss features lyrical writing, and spirited rhythmic drive. The Prelude combines fanfare and lyrical sections as well as tonal and polytonal harmonies. The festive Intrada is in an ABA-Coda format and features crisp, energetic rhythms and lyrical contrapuntal writing. Multiple players may be used on each part. (5’30”) Grade IV.
Sound Samples: Excerpt 1.mp3; Excerpt 2.mp3 - Score Sample: excerpt.pdf

Music available from Cimarron Music Press

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Howard J. Buss, Composer       

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Flute/Piccolo Music

Index of Flute Publications:
(Click on an instrumentation link, works are in alphabetical order within each category.)

Solo flute - unaccompanied

Flute with one other instrument, or voice, or electronic recording (includes flute and piano)

Flute ensembles (flute trios, quartets,and choirs)

Flute in chamber music - trios

Flute in chamber music - quartets (includes standard woodwind quartets)

Flute in chamber music - quintets and sextets  (includes wind quintets)

Flute solo and wind ensemble

Flute Music, Online Graded Catalog of Sheet Music  
Product description: Flute, Piccolo, and Alto Flute: Solos, Duos, Choirs, Chamber Music and Recordings