Telephone Terror

I composed this piece for a Telephone Answering Robot & Cello out of frustration with the increasing prevalence of automated systems in everyday telephone interactions. While writing I realized that this actually is only the beginning of robotics coming into ordinary daily life. Robots are here to stay.

In Part 1, the cello, symbolizing a human, attempts to communicate through the telephone, only to be met with a computer’s automated message instructing to hold the line.

In Part 2, it patiently waits as time ticks away.

In Part 3, the cello, disillusioned with the system, solos in silence, distancing itself from the technological landscape.