Cogito for string quartet
“I think, therefore I am." - René Descartes
Cogito or ‘I think’ encompasses my thoughts that inspired this piece. While quarantining, I found myself often thinking about what it truly means to exist as well as how do our individual life experiences affect our perception? Cogito embodies the mental process of applying the information we know or gain to make conclusions. From initial thoughts and associations to conflicting information to hitting a slump to new or random ideas and etc. When it comes to theoretical questions no matter how much we think, in the end, we’re left with more questions than answers—whether it be consciously or subconsciously. I wanted to express this throughout the piece with sections that felt definite, almost resolved and with sections that were the exact opposite, tense and uncertain. As we approach the end of the piece it feels almost certain that it’ll resolve. However, I chose to end it on a question, because one can never truly have all the answers.
