Agité II

Brendan COLBERT
Born 1956, Ballarat, Victoria

Agité II (1989)

mandolin solo
Duration 5'

Agité is the series title of a set of [mostly short] solo pieces [comprising works for flute, mandolin (also transcribed for vibraphone), piano, guitar, and harp] that are all somewhat agitated in character, and are explorations of selected characteristics of the instruments involved. It came about as the result of a multi-phase play on words on the famous Cartesian line `Cogito ergo sum´, and the works claim no function other than as brief cathartic outbursts.

Agité II was originally commissioned for mandolin by Stephen MOREY, and was premiered by him in 1990. Upon Stephen's retirement from performing, it was transcribed for vibraphone and premiered in that form by Peter NEVILLE in 1999. It is approximately 5 minutes long.

Programme note © Brendan COLBERT