Instrumentation: Mezzo-soprano and piano
Year Composed: 2012

This art song was composed in collaboration with poet Katie Fedosenko as part of the Art Song Lab.

The texts for this art song consist of 18 tweets, written as though from the point of view of various household appliances.
The text is:
“Whirrrrrrrrrr. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Whirrrrrrrrrr.
The heat of your fingers melts my keyboard.
Your laundry is ready. Your laundry is ready. Your laundry is ready.

Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. Ding. Tick. Tick.
Feed me everything you can’t consume.
Umm, excuse me, hi, could you close my door please?

Spin. Spinnnn. Spinnnnnnn. Spinnnnnnnnn.
My engine rivals a two-stroke. The energy efficient sticker lies.
Metal hooks bake better bread than hands.

Gurgle. Gurgle. Gurgle. Gurgle. Hisssss. Hisssss.
I can do so much more than whip cream.
You would be happier if you didn’t use me each day.

Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip. Sizzle.
Sucking out moisture is my expertise.
No one can chop, chop, chop like I can.

Hmmmmmmmm. Click. Hmmmmmmmmmm. Ding Ding DING.
Your husband was so much better at using my grill.
Don’t forget to turn me off before you leave.”

Appliance Speak was a recipient of a Festival Award at the 2014 Boston International Contempo Festival Composers’ Contest.

The piece was also reworked for Erato Ensemble, performed by Tenor, soprano, flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, guitar, piano.  See the video of Erato’s performance.