Orchestral Experimentations, the third volume three in the "Nine Decades" series, 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 Shankar felt at having such resources at his disposal. Not only was he 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. Shankar also maintained his natural inclination for improvisation by recording usually within a hour or two of completing the composition.