Rick van Veldhuizen’s new work, Nulls & Voids, is inspired by Bruckner’s first symphony, which Bruckner himself canceled after a famous conductor failed to find a theme within it. Rick manipulates the symphony’s material so extensively that it becomes unrecognizable—until, at the very end, the elusive theme reappears, gloriously played by the electric guitars, saxophones, and electronics of Ensemble Klang.

Rick van Veldhuizen reflects on his composition, noting that Bruckner was considered an adversary for percussionists, often requiring multiple players for just a few strokes. He also draws parallels with Bruckner’s own struggle, particularly with the composer’s “nullified” symphony. Rick’s approach, though, isn’t to create something new from Bruckner’s work, but rather to embody both the music and the struggle within it. The piece combines free jazz, deep house, trance, and microtonality, offering a completely unconventional take on Bruckner’s legacy.