Electro-Acoustic Ensemble creates original music by amplifying instruments like the harp, French horn and flute. Video by Tim Brouk, Indiana University
The blending of traditional acoustic instruments like the horn, harp and flute is manipulated through sound engineering. Effects are added through microphones on each instrument. It's a mix of musical performance prowess with the possibilities of studio and live board mixing. The sound engineer behind the board is another part of the band. Almost all of the pieces performed are composed in class, too.
Electro-Acoustic Ensemble will play at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, in Room 450 in the Campus Center. The show is free.
Electro-Acoustic's concerts also feature dramatic lighting and video elements. The original works are moody and, at times, experimental. The end result is a feast for the senses.
"In the last year, I've done a lot more writing for the group than playing, but they usually try to fit me in somewhere," Elliott said. "Usually, they'll record me and digitally process my sound with delay or distortion through it.
"I really like this kind of music. My instrument might not fit sometimes, but the way I write and what I do merges well with it."
Music and arts technology student Jessica Anaya Zamora plays the flute at a Feb. 5 Electro-Acoustic Ensemble rehearsal. The group will perform 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, in Room 450 of the Campus Center. Photo by Liz Kaye, Indiana University
Robin Cox, an assistant professor of music and arts technology, said all the musicians are learning their way with mixing boards and other modern technologies of audio production, both for live settings and the studio. Students are responsible for the lighting and video design at Electro-Acoustic concerts as well.
"It gives us a lot of problem-solving and logistical challenges to learn from," said Cox, who will have two of his works performed Tuesday.
Many of those challenges come on show night, but Cox wouldn't have it any other way. Many of his students will work at live performance venues after graduation.
"It's dealing with those day-of-show stresses of making sure every one of those mic lines, every one of those speakers, and every one of those lights and video projectors are all working in sync with each other under the pressure of the show being only a few hours away," Cox said. "It's the professionalism to do all of this under time constraints. They need the maturity and the knowledge base to apply in the moment and to get it right.
"It's the entire audience witnessing what does -- or doesn't -- work that night."
The music and arts technology ensembles are part of classes. The Electro-Acoustic course and ensemble is unique in academia, with its combination of electronic and acoustic instruments in the context of notated music by the department's own students and faculty, amplification, digital processing, bone-conduction earphone monitoring, integrated video, and theatrical lighting design, Cox said.
Vocals are a newer addition to the Electro-Acoustic Ensemble. Coming from a choir background, Savannah Craven, a junior in music and arts technology, lends her soaring voice to most of the pieces. Craven's vocals are often manipulated by the sound engineer with reverb or even distortion to fit the song.
"They almost don't know what to do with me just yet," Craven said with a smile. "It's very different, and I'm excited about it. It incorporates modern music that is so affected by technology. It's interesting to see it happening in a live setting."
For your calendar
Check out the following Department of Music and Arts Technology spring concerts. Each show is at 7:30 p.m. in the Informatics and Communications Technology Complex, Room 152, unless noted. All events are free unless noted.
- Nemanja Ostojic, Feb. 21. $15; $10 for students.
- Aleksandar Hadzi-Djordjevic, March 7. $15; $10 for students.
- Telematic Collective and DISEnsemble, April 5.
- Chamber Ensemble, April 8.
- Rovshan Mamedkuliev, April 11. $15; $10 for students.
- Percussion Ensemble, April 12.
- University Choir and IUPUI Singers, April 15. Indiana Historical Society, 450 W. Ohio St.
- Electro-Acoustic Ensemble, April 16. Campus Center, Room 450.
- Acoustic Guitar Ensemble, April 22.
- Electronic Music Ensemble, April 24. Campus Center, Room 450.
- Jazz Ensemble, April 29.