How do we, as humans, relate to other forms of intelligence?

Composer and audiovisual artist Zeno van den Broek poses this question at a moment when, due to the emergence of its artificial counterpart, it has become more urgent than ever. He composed Ways of [ ] for two leading musical ensembles – HIIIT and Percussions de Strasbourg – and four digital entities: robotic percussion machines programmed to perform both autonomously and in interaction with the human percussionists.

To train these entities, Van den Broek fed their algorithms with rhythmic data from their ancestors: mechanical technologies such as steam engines, looms, and other industrial machines. In this way, the digital entities gradually learned to respond to different materials and ways of playing – much like humans learn from their predecessors and respond to fellow performers.

In three phases, the audiovisual composition explores various forms of intelligence, logic, and musical structures, creating spaces in which both percussionists and digital entities can act individually and perform collectively during the live performance.

The first phase, [absorb], shows the initial moments of awareness, where the use of machines and tools is mainly utilitarian, even primitive. The second phase, [evolve], introduces forms of interaction and learning through interaction, up to the point where the entities develop a voice and find ways to express themselves. In the final phase, [project], a level of equality is reached, enabling the possibility to interact and create communally and freely.

Ways of [ ] blends shifting and syncopated rhythms, machine-like minimal music structures with partly improvised passages for both humans and digital entities, inviting the listener to reflect on the nature of intelligence and the essence of our human condition.

Premiere: 10-09-2025 at Gaudeamus Festival, Utrecht – NL
10-01-2025: Muziekgebouw, Amsterdam – NL