Tuba and CD

ALIEN LOOP DE LOOPS for solo instrument and electronic recording by Howard J. Buss is a playful and capricious fantasy piece designed to appeal to a wide range of audiences. The title refers to both programmatic and technical elements in the composition. The composer envisioned a performer outside in an open area during an air show by an alien craft. During the opening section he/she is playing unaccompanied, but then is joined by the recording which contains sounds generated by traditional instruments as well as an "alien" voice, the spacecraft, and various electronic effects. Technically, the title refers to how the recording was made. It consists of numerous sound loops combined to form an imaginative and picturesque sonic tapestry. The publication includes the sheet music and a CD (attached to the inside of the back cover) that contains a performance track and the accompaniment track. Learn More

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with CD or MP3 download

HoUsE miX was composed in September-October of 1995 at the request of tubist Jeffrey Funderburk. The recording of the electronics part provides the first three beats of measure one and then the tubist begins – in time – on the second eighth note of the fourth beat in measure one (marked * in the score).  As to the title, it was my intention in writing this piece to emphasize the electronic nature of the accompaniment rather than to try and disguise it.  In borrowing materials and gestures from the language of 1990s techno dance music, I also sought to borrow one of its structural conceits: the sharp juxtaposition of diverse materials (represented by the mash-up of upper- and lower-case letters in the title). Jeffrey Funderburk has recorded HoUsE miX on his second solo CD, Journeys (Mark Records #3176).

 

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Rock drums, symphony orchestra, epic themes. Easy to play with a well produced synth track. Learn More

“Mutation for Tuba and Electronics” was composed for Dr. Chris Combest, who requested a solo tuba work with recorded accompaniment. His only requirement was to include the “charm” of video game music. Inspired by other solo tuba works with electronics and classic video games, Mutation’s accompaniment features basic 8-bit sounds to unify the slow-fast sections and to capture the feel of the 80’s and early 90’s. The overall theme of the work, much like many games, is essentially a hero’s journey through dark and light, eventually saving the day or the world. The piece is intended to challenge the tubist and excite the audience. Learn More

with CD; A Melodrama for Tuba and CD/Theme and Variations for Tuba and CD or downloaded sounds Learn More

This is a challenging work for Tuba and Fixed Media. Learn More

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with Electronics

The music of "Tomes of Redemption" uses themes and leitmotifs from the previous two installments in the “Tomes” saga to tell the story envisioned by the composer. The hero from "Tomes of Hardened Steel" became king. He has let his kingdom slowly go to ruin because of several misfortunes. The kingdom’s allies have not contacted them for a long period, so he decides to go on one last quest. After sailing to the island kingdom and finding it deserted, he has a spiritual encounter with ghosts to learn a fierce dragon, Tugarin, has wiped out the kingdom. The hero knows he must fight Tugarin to make it right, resulting in an epic battle to the death.

"Tomes of Redemption" was a a project that came about when James M. Green spoke with Ben McMillan about his previous tuba and electronic pieces. Ben asked James to commission the third installment of "Tomes". James jumped at the opportunity, became the lead commissioner, and put together a consortium that was made up of:

Bo Atlas, David Bisson, Douglas Black, Phillip Black, Josh Calkin, Wiatt Cariveau, Chris Combest, David Earll, Bryan Gozdowski, Preston Light, Tracy Luna, Kevin Madden, Winston Morris, Robert Munson, Jesse Orth, Allen Parrish, Richard Perry, Patrick Rettger, Gabriel Sears, Andy Smith, Adam Stevens, Matthew Tatz, Chris Vivio, Randy Westmoreland and Jarrod Williams

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