Volume three in the Nine Decades Series, entitled Orchestral Experimentations, is a set of nine studio tracks featuring Ravi Shankar’s earliest compositional experimentations with his National Orchestra recorded between 1950 and 1954. the orchestra consisted of many of the finest Indian musicians of the period, and in these recordings one senses the excitement Ravi felt at having such resources at his disposal. Not only was Ravi inspired by the players to experiment with orchestration, but he enjoyed the freedom to explore both North and South Indian systems, as well as use some Western technique. Ravi also maintained his natural inclination for improvisation by recording usually within a hour or two of completing the composition.

"These compositions were composed between 1949 and 1954, when I had a group of wonderful musicians and instrumentalists from both North and South India working with me. Such experimentation! I was exploring both North and South Indian systems as well as adding in some elements from the West.  This experimental sensibility is reflected in the instrumentation here: Sitar, Sarod, Flute, Violin, Esraj, Kasht Tarang, Nadeswar, Swarmndal, Tabla, Dholak, Nakara from the North and Veena, Clarinet, Violin, Flute, Mridangam, Ganjira from the south of India. The sessions included some famous south Indian musicians like Ramnad Easwran, A.K.C. Natarajan, Hari Shankar and a very young Chaturlal, whom I groomed from this period and later took on as my Tabla accompanist in many of my tours in the USA and Europe.

My approach too, was all about experimentation. I trained in the strict Hindustani system of North India, yet I had a tremendous love and attraction from my childhood for the Carnatic system of south Indian music. This was the period when I started experimenting with the Carnatic approach of rhythmic complexities in my compositions. I was inspired more so because of working with such wonderful musicians from the south during my period with All India Radio, Delhi where I was Director of Vadya Vrind (Chamber Orchestra from 1949-1954.

Being an improvisor, I did all my compositions on the spot and recorded them within a few hours. And in those days, recording was done with just a few overhead general microphones, very spontaneous. Here, my student Barry Phillips has done a wonderful job of cleaning and mastering these recordings and I hope the music inspires the delight of experimentation in the mind of the listener." - Ravi Shankar, 2011