Ensemble Tartit will perform tonight at 8 p.m. in Dinkelspiel Auditorium on the Stanford University campus. The group is comprised of nomadic Tuaregs from Mali's northern desert who are preserving their traditional "desert blues" music. Ensemble Tartit will perform both historical pieces (some more than a century old) and more recent compositions inspired by contemporary events that pay homage to local heroes. A pre-performance discussion with Thomas K. Seligman, director of the Cantor Arts Center, will take place at 6:45 p.m. and will be open to the public free of charge. The discussion will center on the Tuareg culture.