Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck

Mein Junges Leben Hat Ein End

The successful arrangement of this piece for two choreographed trombones for the New Trombone Collective inspired Steven Verhelst to make an arrangement for four trombones. The six variations on the melody from Sweelinck's "Mein junges leben hat Ein End" were initially written for organ. This arrangement for trombone quartet stays close to the original but, in spite of the more compact form, has a much richer sound. At the beginning the quar­tet is divided into four distinct voices in which we can clearly hear a dialogue between the four soloists. As the melody develops the harmony gains a more complex structure and the first variations are elaborated. Each voice still maintains its separate character but becomes gradually more absorbed into the ensemble. Ultimately the melody returns in its original form.