"L Subramaniam is the best this listener has heard." - The New York Times "L. Subramaniam, greatest of classical Indian violinists, was both Paganini and Poet" - San Francisco Chronicle L Subramaniam, India's foremost violinist, orchestral composer and creator of the Global Fusion concept, is perhaps the greatest representative of Indian classical music today. He has performed/recorded with some of the greatest musicians of all times including Yehudi Menhuin, Stephane Grapelli, Herbie Hancock, Ali Akbar Khan, Ravi Shankar, George Harrison and Stevie Wonder. He has written/performed orchestral compositions with the New York Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Orchestra Nationale du Lille, among others. L Subramaniam starts this album with a compositional form called the varnam, which he performs in 14 speeds by dividing the beat into a different number of pulses. The varnam 'Jalajaksha' composed by Manumbuchavadi Venkatasubbier is in the raga Hamsadhwani and is set to an 8 beat cycle (divided as 4+2+2) called Adi tala. This track is unique because never before, and never since, has a varnam been recorded or performed in 14 speeds in the history of music. The second composition is a beautiful kriti, "Mamava sada" composed by King Swati Tirunal. It is in raga Kaanada set to Rupaka tala of three beats. The third track is a percussion ensemble set to Adi Tala. The fourth composition is divided into three parts: Ragam, Tanam and Pallavi. This is a musically complicated and technically challenging form and is regarded as the acme of a South Indian classical performance. The Ragam-Tanam-Pallavi is based on a rare raga called Simhendramadhyama and is set to Sankirna chapu, a 9 beat cycle. The fifth track is a percussion ensemble set to Rupaka Tala. The final track is a Tiruppugazh in the raga Suddha Saveri set to Adi Tala. This is a composition of Saint Arunagirinathar.