Howard J. Buss (born January 6, 1951) is an American composer of contemporary classical music.
Early life and education Buss was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on January 6, 1951, the eldest of eight children. At age 14, he became a member of the Patriot Jazz BandInstrument Specialists to Conduct Music Clinic for Grenadiers. (January 27, 1982). The Avon Park Sun. Highlands News-Sun Group. Retrieved December 15, 2025. in Allentown and joined the American Federation of Musicians, later becoming a member of the Marine Band of Allentown. Buss also toured as a trombonist with the Tijuana Brats; recording with them for R.C.A. RecordsMcCormick, Kim (December 11, 1981). The Flute Music of Howard J. Buss. May/June 2009. Pg 39-40. Flute Talk Magazine. Retrieved December 15, 2025 and appearing with them on various television shows, such as The Tonight Show, The Mike Douglas Show, and The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon.Loose, Darla (December 11, 1982). During Basic Training Composer Was a Brat. Pg 2. The Tampa Tribune. Retrieved December 15, 2025.
He attended Emmaus High School in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1968.https://www.mcall.com/1992/01/04/ex-valley-musician-wins-composition-competition/ "Ex-Valley musician wins composition competition"], The Morning Call, January 4, 1992 He attended West Chester State College, where he received his Bachelor of Arts in applied music in 1972. In 1974, he studied with composer H. Owen Reed at Michigan State, where he received a Master of Music in trombone performance in 1975. In 1977, he received a Doctor of Musical Arts in composition from the University of Illinois.
Career In 1985, Buss established Brixton Publications and Howard J. Buss Publications. The companies were sold to Cimarron Music Press in October 2021.
Buss has received several awards, including the 2011 Lieksa Brass Week Composition Competition in Finland, the 2015 American Trombone Workshop National Composition Competition, and The American Prize. Nb: The American Prize.
Personal life He is married to Judy E. Buss, a musician and flutist.
Selected works Currents for percussion quartet (1976) A Day in the City - 7 Vignettes for solo clarinet (1986) Fantasia for clarinet, flute and piano (1989) Incantation for trumpet & percussion (1994) Modern Times for narrator, flute, and four percussion (1995)Allmusic. Modern Times for flute, percussion and narrator. Howard J Buss. Retrieved October 10, 2025. Night Flight for piccolo, clarinet & piano (1995) Into Each Life for flute, cello, piano, and percussion (1998)Playback. ASCAP Member Magazine. Volume 5. Issue 2-4. September 13, 2019. The University of California. Retrieved October 10, 2025. Millennium Visions for clarinet and string quartet (2000)Uniform Titles for Music Koth, Michelle. . March 20, 2008. Bloomsbury Academic. pg 223. Retrieved October 10, 2025. The World Within for B-flat clarinet and cello (2000)The Clarinet. Volume 28, Issue 2. 2001. The University of Michigan. May 26, 2010. Retrieved October 10, 2025. Scenes from the Holy Land for flute & percussion (2002) Overture for Percussion for narrator, flute and 4 percussion (2003)Gramophone magazine. Stone, Christopher. Volume 82. 2005. The University of California. September 13, 2010. Retrieved October 10, 2025. Atmospheres for trumpet & percussion (2005)Allmusic.com. Howard J Buss. Compositions. 1951. Contemporary.
References
External links
Howard J. Buss YouTube Channel