Role

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Composer

Birth

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1951

 

Howard Buss is a renowned American composer of classical music, known for his unique style and innovative approach to composition. Born on August 8, 1951, in New York City, Buss grew up in a family of musicians. His father was a professional trumpet player, and his mother was a pianist. From a young age, Buss showed a keen interest in music and began playing the piano at the age of five. Buss's early musical education was primarily focused on the piano, but he soon began to explore other instruments, including the trumpet and the French horn. He also began to experiment with composition, writing his first piece at the age of 12. Buss's musical talent was evident from an early age, and he was encouraged by his parents to pursue a career in music. After completing high school, Buss attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he studied composition with Samuel Adler and Warren Benson. He also studied trumpet with Barbara Butler and Charles Geyer. Buss's time at Eastman was a formative period in his musical development, and he credits his teachers with helping him to refine his compositional style and develop his unique voice. After graduating from Eastman, Buss moved to California, where he began to establish himself as a composer and performer. He worked as a freelance musician, playing trumpet and French horn in various orchestras and ensembles. He also began to receive commissions for his compositions, and his works were performed by a variety of ensembles, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the San Francisco Symphony. Buss's compositional style is characterized by its eclectic influences and innovative approach to form and structure. His works often incorporate elements of jazz, rock, and world music, as well as traditional classical forms. Buss is also known for his use of unconventional instrumentation, such as the didgeridoo and the steel drum. One of Buss's most notable works is his Symphony No. 2, "Voices from the Earth," which was commissioned by the San Francisco Symphony and premiered in 1992. The symphony is a tribute to the natural world and incorporates elements of Native American music and culture. The work is scored for a large orchestra, including a chorus and soloists, and features a variety of percussion instruments, including the didgeridoo and the rain stick. Another notable work by Buss is his Concerto for Steel Drum and Orchestra, which was commissioned by the Trinidad and Tobago Steelband Association and premiered in 2001. The concerto is a fusion of classical and Caribbean music and features the steel drum as the solo instrument. The work has been performed by orchestras around the world and has helped to popularize the steel drum as a serious concert instrument. Buss's other works include numerous chamber music pieces, choral works, and solo works for various instruments. He has received numerous awards and honors for his compositions, including the ASCAP Foundation Morton Gould Young Composer Award and the National Endowment for the Arts Composer Fellowship. In addition to his work as a composer, Buss is also an accomplished educator and has taught at a number of universities and music schools, including the University of California, Santa Barbara, and the University of Oregon. He has also served as a guest lecturer and conductor at various institutions around the world.

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