Lachrymae for saxophone quartet was composed on commission for the International Organ Festival Haarlem.

Lachrymae is a contemplative composition that translates mourning and acceptance into music in a unique way. The piece draws inspiration from the melancholic song Lachrymae by John Dowland, a Renaissance masterpiece, and the precise, expressive style of Dutch composer Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck. This blend results in a modern work deeply rooted in the tradition of music exploring loss, grief, and solace.

The composition offers listeners a moment of introspection and emotional connection while paying homage to the musical greats of the past. With its rich musical language and the fusion of timeless melancholy and a contemporary approach, the saxophone quartet performing Lachrymae often manages to deeply move its audience.

Drawing inspiration from John Dowland’s iconic composition Lachrymae, Vrolijk has created a remarkable work that combines the melancholic atmosphere of the Renaissance song with the precise lines of her compatriot, organist Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck. All of this has been translated into a modern, captivating musical language. The piece’s meditative yet powerful character was performed with such intensity by four talented saxophonists that the audience listened in rapt silence.

– WESTFÄLISCHE NACHRICHTEN