Review

Steven Verhelst
First Class:

Coventry, , United Kingdom
Publisher: Warwick Music Publishers
Date of Publication: 2008
URL: http://www.warwickmusic.com

Primary Genre: Trombone Ensembles - 8 trombones

First Class, composed by bass trombonist and composer Steven Verhelst (b.1981), was commissioned by the world famous New Trombone Collective of Holland and is published as part of Warwick Music’s New Trombone Collective Series.  Steven Verhelst studied at the Rotterdam Conservatory with Ben van Dijk, Jörgen van Rijen and Pierre Volders. He has performed with most Belgian and Dutch orchestras such as the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, the Metropole Orchestra, the Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, etc.
 
As a composer/arranger, Steven has written several pieces for Ben van Dijk, Henrik-Jan Renes, Fritz Damrow, the New Trombone Collective, and the Rotterdam Philharmonic. This work is a true concert work for trombone choir, 15-18 minutes in length, scored for 6 tenors and 2 basses. The first two tenor parts are given in tenor clef, parts 3-6 in bass clef.  The work is based around its main theme, which is introduced by tenor trombone one and bass trombone one just after rehearsal letter A and is then spread throughout the parts in the exposition. This melody is rhythmically altered into triplets as well as elongated and inventively re-harmonized throughout the work.  The triplet section is especially challenging yet also quite rewarding for each of the players and audience. Verhelst’s use of dissonance and delay of resolution create effective and powerful cadences when they ultimately do occur. The transitional material is created using layering as well as interesting and complex rhythmic structures. The results are quite effective and powerful. It is important to note that Verhelst also spreads the melody parts around so each part has a nice balance of melody, harmony and rest. At the tempi indicated, the work is quite challenging, however slightly slower tempi do not result in a loss of quality to the composition. While the length of the work does require physical and mental stamina, each part carries an excellent balance of interest and rest and of course doubling is an excellent method for allowing additional rest if desired. Ranges climb to d2 for trombone one, c2 for trombone two and b1 for trombone three.  Bass trombone parts are well within range of most collegiate bass trombonists. Page and clarity of trombone parts and score are excellent, clear and well-marked. 
 
This is really an excellent work. It is quite expansive, challenging and unfortunately expensive, but absolutely worth it and highly recommended if you have the players to pull it off. 

-Thomas Zugger
Capital University