Belgian composer Steven Verhelst (b. 1981) began his musical life as trombonist, studying in Belgium and around Europe and the United States. He has made his career primarily in Belgium and the Netherlands, playing trombone in several bands and orchestras. He has also written extensively for wind band, various brass ensembles (especially trombones), and solo music for low brass instruments.
A Song for Japan came about in 2011 as the composer’s reaction to the massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami that ravaged Japan on March 11 of that year. It has been played thousands of times around the world. It has blossomed into an ongoing charity project with its own website. Being a charity work, the piece is available for free on IMSLP. It comes in almost countless versions. The wind band version that seems to get the most play comes in an arrangement by Tetsuya Watanabe:
The original version is for trombone quartet – see this compilation video of several trombonists and ensembles from around the world playing it:
Here is a version for brass ensemble:
The composer created another wind band version with trombone soloist:
There is also a version for trombone and orchestra:
Stop by Steven Verhelst’s website and the Wind Repertory Project if you’d like to know more about him.