Category: Vocal / Chamber Music
Instrumentation: vibraphone, clarient, and voice
Duration: 4 minutes
Publisher: ALRY Publications
Text / Source: Inspired by the poem Resting by Miesha Lowery

Resting is a four-minute chamber vocal work for vibraphone, clarinet, and voice, inspired by Miesha Lowery’s poem Resting. With a somewhat jazz-inflected sound world, the piece moves toward a deeply romantic expressive character, centered around the closing line of Lowery’s poem.

The unusual combination of vibraphone, clarinet, and voice gives the work a distinctive intimacy, blending lyrical vocal writing with warm instrumental color. Baxter’s setting brings together poetic reflection, songfulness, and contemporary harmonic nuance in a concise and atmospheric chamber form. Mr. Baxter stated that the great jazz vibraphonist, Milt Jackson, was the inspiration behind the vibraphone part.

Resting offers an unusual and engaging combination of vibraphone, clarinet, and voice. With its distinctive timbral palette, it would make a particularly effective addition to percussion recitals, while also fitting beautifully on vocal recital programs.