Cobalt

Composed in 2019, Cobalt is the fourth piece in Michel Lysight’s Metal Series for two instruments or two instrumentalists, following Titanium, Tin, and Palladium.

Set in a predominantly modal sound world, the piece opens with a lyrical and highly expressive theme. This is followed by a lively and rhythmically charged section, where the minimalist nature of the patterns is offset by sudden and dramatic modulations that continually renew the musical discourse. At one point, the initial motif reappears, superimposed upon other elements in a dense and energetic texture.

The work concludes with a return to the material of the opening, now transposed into a different mode and bathed in a calm, serene atmosphere — bringing the piece to a peaceful and contemplative close.