By: Ramsey Ameen

Violinist, Composer, Mathematician

Jorge Sylvester's rhythmic language in "Construction No. 2", so brilliantly brought to life by the ACE Collective, is his covenant with a heritage deep and rich beyond imagination. In his poetic masterpiece "Omeros", Derek Walcott writes, “And God said to Achille, "Look, 1 giving you permission / to come home." The way home is in the deep memory of these intricate rhythms that unfold the infinite meanings of an eternal Pulse. Remarkably, current research in mathematical neuroscience affirms that layers of precise polyrhythmic patterns are mapped to synapse locations in the treelike Structure of our neurons. Therefore this intricate rhythmic language is built to each and every one of us. The ever shifting polyrhythms of Africa, the grand cyclic time sense of the indigenous Amerindian cultures, the formal abstractions of Europe - all this and much more are alloyed in the Caribbean crucible - all are counterparts to aspects of our human nature, physiology, and consciousness - all are given grand expression in the rhythmic language at the heart of this music.