Systema Naturae: shared practices between physical computing and algorithmic composition

Systema Naturae is a cycle of four compositions written for various instrumental ensembles and electromechanical setups. The workflow includes design and construction of electromechanical instruments, algorithmic composition, automated notation generation, real-time control of the se- tups and synchronization with the acoustic ensemble dur- ing the performances. These various aspects have to be in- tegrated in a unique working pipeline, that has to be shared between the two authors, and thus requires to define com- munication protocols for sharing data and procedures. The paper reports on those aspects and on the integration re- quired between hardware and software, non-real time and real time operations, acoustic and mechanical instruments, and, last but not least, between the two composers.