Performed by:
Sonny Ratcliff - electronic and acoustic percussion, keyboards, drum machine programming
Juan Carlos Somarriba - 6- and 7-string electric, bass and MIDI guitar, Yamaha G50 programming, keyboards
Shawn Spruce - keyboards and synthesizer programming
Matt Steidle - electric, acoustic and bass guitar, keyboards, Alesis Quadroverb programming
John Hildreth - direction, arrangements; electric, MIDI and bass guitar, electronic percussion

1. Second Essay
John Hildreth

2. Nutville
Horace Silver (b. 1928)

3. 'Meine Lebens Leitze Zeit'
J.S. Bach (1685-1750)

4. Rhythmic Improvisation
RU Digital Ensemble

5. War Cry
Juan Carlos Somarriba

6. Melodic Improvisation on 'E'
RU Digital Ensemble

7. Chameleon
Herbie Hancock (b. 1940)

Notes:
1. Second Essay - the second installment in a series of ensemble essays, this piece features a heavy rock vitality within an improvisatory musical environment. Tritonic voicings and root movement by diminished fifth are featured elements in the first two sections of the piece, which move from a 7/8 meter in the introduction to a solid 4/4 pulse in the ‘A' and ‘B' sections. The third section switches to an abrupt 5/8 groove with minor seventh, major seventh and quartal harmonies constructed from tertian and tritonic progressions between the roots of F, B and Db. The overall form of the Second Essay is a rondo, as material from the introduction and ‘A' sections separate the constituent portions of the piece and ultimately return in the end. Tonight's performance features solos by Juan Carlos Somarriba, John Hildreth, Sonny Ratcliff and Matt Steidle.

2. Nutville - this latin jazz standard epitomizes the hard bop style of composer Horace Silver, and evidences the multifaceted influences of black gospel, bebop, latin and r&b in the composer's music. Tonight, Juan Carlos Sommariba and Matt Steidle are featured soloists.

3. Meine Lebens Leitze Zeit - this standard chorale by J.S. Bach is performed this evening in an aleatoric setting. The pitches of each part remain unaltered, while the rhythmic values have been deleted from each performer's score so that they are approximated, thus creating an arrhythmic arrangement. The individual noteheads retain their original color (black or clear) so the basic intent of each pitch's duration is not lost. Each performer plays at a self-determined pace and repeats the piece three times before ending. As a result, the chorale becomes an exercise in musical timbre as each member of the ensemble ends at a different point in time. The listener may notice shades of the original tonal harmony are not absent, but merely rearranged.

4. Rhythmic Improvisation - all members of the group utilize percussive voices and techniques for this piece. A simple rhythm is begun, and each performer is cued individually to begin a counter- rhythm. When everyone has entered, the group proceeds to improvise in rhythmic counterpoint, each person playing off what the others are doing. This piece is an exercise in listening for both the performers and the audience, as individual musical intuitions merge to form a larger, organic whole in this simplest of musical expressions.

5. War Cry - this is the second work that Mr. Somarriba has written for ensemble, and it features many of the elements common to much of his other orchestrated, heavy-rock compositions. The piece is highly cinematic in nature, and is evocative of both musical aggression and sensitivity. The aesthetic nature of the music is all-out hard rock tinged with ethereal synthesizers and driving, often deceptive assymetrical rhythms.

6. Melodic Improvisation on ‘E' - another completely improvised work, this piece functions similiarly to the rhythmic improvisation. Each performer is cued in at intervals, followed by intuitive improvisations around an ‘E' pitch center. Spontaneous free counterpoint, imitation and sound effects crop up between the instruments during the piece, as each member of the group strives to utilize melodic, motivic and ostinati figurations in addition to equal amounts of empty space.

7. Chameleon - Herbie Hancock's classic fusion chart closes tonight's program, and features solos by Juan Carlos Sommariba, Matt Steidle, and Shawn Spruce.

Upcoming Events:
Watch for a feature recording on compact disc of the RU Digital Ensemble in the spring of 2000 (it is undecided at this time whether it will be a single or double CD set). In addition, visit our web site at the Digital Ensemble website for more information on the group, including the upcoming Spring 2000 concert on Thursday, April 20, at 8pm in Preston Hall.