The Arhus Symphony Orchestra and Royal Danish Ballet performed, and many works for instruments and electronics were heard. While I enjoyed the conference very much, I regard this central theme, The Human Touch, with ambivalence. Most music we know is written by and for humans, with expressive concerns of some type. While most would agree that expression is good, its implementation is often controversial. When incorporating new technologies into music, there must be a balance between communicability and innovation.
New techniques require new types of expression, as well as open ears to be understood.
It is important to allow the users of new techniques to develop their own innate expressiveness, rather than demand that they emulate familiar modes. I trust that the listener can assimilate innovation. Despite this concern, the musical events, even a gigantic fireworks display with music, were well-produced and generally effective. Peter Bosch and Simone Simons's Electric Swaying Orchestra installation in the Musikhuset lobby held my interest each time I stopped by. At the press of a button, a motor-driven system of gears and pendulum movements gradually accelerated and decelerated, while quirky music based on chaos equations was generated.