Review

Ted Vives
Verbum Continuum:
soprano, trombone, and piano

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Publisher:
Date of Publication: 1997

Manuscript

Primary Genre: Chamber Music

The three movements of Verbum Continuum are titled Plato’s Comeuppance, To Dian Fossey, and The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence. The poetry is written by Raphael Carter and the lyrics of the second movement refer to a compatriot of Jane Goodall. Ted Vives is a composer, conductor, and trombonist in Los Alamos, NM. A recipient of several composition honors, including the 2011 American Prize in Composition (Choral Division), his compositions are available from his website http://www.survivesmusic.net/Site/Welcome.html.

Although there are exposed solo passages, Vives uses a good combination of doubling and supportive writing. At times he employs secundal clusters to reinforce rhythmic pulses, while elsewhere utilizing quartal harmonies to support lyrical lines. The trombone writing employs several repeating melodic motives. Range is fairly conservative, predominately spanning F to a-flat1, although there are two intense and sustained C’s at the end of this third movement. Given their prominence, coupled with their doubling with the piano, I would pull my F attachment to E before the third movement so that the C can be more secure. 

The vocal part is written for soprano, although it traverses b1 to g2. The third movement begins with unmetered chanting as a prelude to the trombonist’s six-measure rhythmic ostinato pattern that is repeated and varied throughout the movement. If you can find a singer wanting to explore contemporary chamber music, this will be a nice addition to a recital. 

-Peter Fielding
Mahidol University