Hoeard J. Buss: Clarinet in Chamber Music - Quartets

Clarinet in chamber music - quartets Listed in alphabetical order, durations are in parenthesis.  

COSMIC PORTRAITS (2009) consists of 3 movements inspired by views of objects in the Milky Way galaxy. The titles of the first two, The Backbone of Night and The Pale Blue Dot, are 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 his, The Pale Blue Dot, Sagan poetically describes a haunting 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.
Score Samples (Woodwind quartet version): Movement_1.pdf; Movement_2.pdf; Movement_3.pdf

- 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 - Music available from Cimarron Music Press

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

YouTube performances - Movement 1., Movement 2., Movement 3.

DRY BONES, the well-known African American spiritual (the foot bone's connected to the leg bone, the leg bone's connected to the...), arranged by Howard Buss, Multiple players may be used on each part to expand the ensemble. This arrangement is influenced by jazz. The introduction begins hymn-like, then breaks out in a jubilant jazzy section. This is followed by a more traditional rendering of the spiritual, As the music reaches its climax, the jazz "licks" from the introduction are brought back as counterpoint against the main melody of the spiritual. For a bit of humor, just as the work ends, there is a "tongue-in-cheek" plagal cadence. (2’30”) Grade IV.
Dry Bones clarinet quartet score sample: Excerpt.pdf

Dry Bones woodwind quartet sound samples: Excerpt 1.mp3; Excerpt 2.mp3 ; Score_Sample.pdf

- version for four clarinets (3 Bb & bass)  - Music available from Cimarron Music Press

- version for woodwind quartet - Music available from Cimarron Music Press

FESTIVAL (1996) for flute/piccolo, C flute & 2 Bb clarinets exudes a contagious optimism. This work features 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.

Music available from Cimarron Music Press

PRELUDE AND INTRADA for woodwind quartet (flute, oboe, clarinet & bassoon) is characterized by 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

TRADITIONS (1990, 2014) for violin, clarinet, guitar & string bass was commissioned for Viva Klezmer! as part of the nationwide 50th Anniversary Celebration of the American Music Center. In 2014 the composer revised the work, further developing some sections. It is a synthesis of traditional Jewish Klezmer music and elements of Western concert music. From the ornate opening cadenza (based upon the well-known "Shalom Alechem" melody to the jubilant, energetic "freilach" which concludes the work, Traditions spans a wide range of emotions. It is notated in a way so that if one has not performed Klezmer music before, it is relatively easy to play. (7’10”) Grade IV-V.   
Score Samples: Score_excerpt.pdf; Clarinet part.pdf  - Sound Sample: Excerpt.mp3

Music available from Cimarron Music Press

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Clarinet/Bass Clarinet Sheet Music
Click on an instrumentation link, works are listed in alphabetical order within each category.

Solo clarinet - unaccompanied

Clarinet with one other instrument or voice (includes clarinet duos, clarinet and piano, clarinet and electronic recording, basset horn and piano, etc.)

Clarinet ensembles (includes clarinet trios, quartets, choirs)

Clarinet or bass clarinet solo with percussion ensemble

Clarinet in chamber music - trios

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

Clarinet in chamber music - quintets and sextets (includes standard wind quintets)

Clarinet and band (or wind ensemble)

Howard J. Buss, Composer       

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Product description: Clarinet & Bass Clarinet: Solos, Duos, Choirs, and Chamber Music