Shock Workers

Program Notes:

The title "Shock Workers" refers to the early 20th-century movement of highly productive laborers who, driven by ideological motives, significantly increased their daily output. This composition reflects on the profound impact of industrialization on humanity and the resulting relentless labor. In the surge of AI, machines not only challenge mechanical labor but also intellectual and creative pursuits. As machines compel us to increase our workload, are they aids or competitors? The piece doesn’t answer that question, but portrays individuals grappling with mechanized pressures, expressing both resilience and vulnerability in a world increasingly shaped by efficiency. It explores the complex relationship between progress and its human costs, prompting contemplation of how humanity adapts to and endures in an era of technological advancement. Themes of perseverance and adaptation resonate throughout "Shock Workers," inviting listeners to engage with a musical narrative that mirrors the complexities of contemporary existence. Mechanical design and programming of the motors were made in collaboration with Eli Backer.

About the Performers:

RE:duo (“Reply Duo”) engages audiences with innovative programming that blurs the lines between artistic disciplines. Consisting of saxophonist Wilson Poffenberger, and violist Elsie Bae Han, the duo formed following an interdisciplinary collaboration exploring the intersection between sound and movement. RE:duo has since expanded its repertory to include works that feature performative elements such as theater, improvisation, movement, and speech. With a principal objective of elevating and connecting with other artists, both duo members founded and hold executive positions with New Music Mosaic, a new music collective dedicated to promoting a more equitable musical community through the performance, creation, and dissemination of new music by artists of diverse backgrounds and identities. Through New Music Mosaic, RE:duo curates a series of concerts across the U.S. as a part of their open call for scores initiative.

Premiered at the 80th Annual Composers Conference; Avaloch Farm Music Institute, Boscawen, NH

If you want to perform this work, please CONTACT ME to borrow the motors.