Florian Hecker presents a new six-channel computer piece, structured and organized by an artificial neural network—an electronic model based on the neural structure of the brain, or if you prefer, a computing system that can learn on its own. Hecker breaks it down, explaining the network will be “educated by my practice in ‘doing’ live electronic music, and once functioning, creates music in ‘the style of me.’ ”

With software engineer Tommi Keränen, he has developed an artificial neural network that controls the many software instruments he has been using over the last seven years. In concert, sound is diffused manually (Hecker) and by computer (artificial Hecker).

Florian Hecker (b.1975, Augsburg, Germany) has been working with computer music independently and in collaboration with other artists such as Russell Haswell, Peter Rehberg, Oswald Berthold, Marcus Schmickler and Yasunao Tone since 1996. His works emphasize the connections between recent developments and historical trends in computer music and related technology. Often working closely with software engineers and scientists, his recent productions incorporate psychoacoustic effects that disorient spatial perception. His full-length solo recording, Sun Pandämonium, received the Award of Distinction at the Prix Ars Electronica 2003.

Hecker has given numerous international solo audio presentations, including La Biennale di Venezia, 49th International Exhibition of Art, Venice 2001; Royal Festival Hall, London 2002; Documenta11, Kulturbahnhof, Kassel 2002; Centre Pompidou, Paris 2002; ICMC 2002, Gothenburg 2002 and Ars Electronica, Linz 2003. He also works closely with visual artists, including Angela Bulloch, Carsten Höller, Florian Pumhösl and Cerith Wyn Evans. Together with Russell Haswell, he is working on a project with material recorded in 2004 during their research with the UPIC system at the Centre for the Composition of Music Iannis Xenakis (CCMIX) in Paris. He lives in Vienna.

Florian Hecker performed at Lampo in November 2002. He and Yasunao Tone premiered Palimpsest, in the duo’s first U.S. appearance. Hecker also presented his solo work Stocha Acid Vlook.