Vivid

About

vivid

adjective
1. producing powerful feelings or strong, clear images in the mind
2. (of a colour) intensely deep or bright
3. archaic (of a person or animal) lively and vigorous

origin: mid 17th century, from Latin vividus, from vivere “to live”

Vivid is a response to the poetry of Will Christie, in particular her poem Vivid, an incredibly intense exploration and interrogation of language, sexual politics and identity. I was drawn to the percussive, almost violent sibilance that was “ready in the words”: it suggested to me an explicitly musical setting. The music attempts to create a conversation between text and sound while retaining the narrative, wordplay and multiplicity of meaning inherent in the written poem.

Alex Taylor