Spring-Rhapsody

This composition is written for a flute, an oboe, a clarinet and strings. It is a composition in three movements. The first movement starts with beautiful melodic lines for a solo flute based on an Indian raga with a cello and bass giving a drone support. This free and expressive opening leads to the introduction of the opening theme in oboe followed by South Indian rhythmic figures played by the string section. This leads to the middle section where the clarinet has a sustained melodical line based in another raga, which leads to the free rhapsodic passage on the flute, which ends on a trade off between flute, oboe, clarinet, and strings which leads to the grand ending of the first movement.

The second movement is an expressive rubato movement, which passes through different time signatures like ⁵/₄ and ⁴/₄ and ³/₄ but yet maintaining the serene, mystical Indian flavour with a beautiful blend of woodwinds and strings.

The third movement is a fast upbeat movement, which passes through different time signatures such as ⁵/₄, ³/₄ and ⁹/₈ which leads to a beautiful trade off section based on Indian concepts first, between the woodwinds and later between the woodwinds and strings. This continues to a very interesting modal shift section where the same melodic motive is traded off between different instruments, but at the same time passing through different harmonic progressions, leading to the original E minor key. This comes back to the recapitulation and the grand finale of the piece.

In this composition, the composer Dr. L. Subramaniam has masterfully blended the South Indian ragas (melodic concept) with different tala (rhythmic concept) patterns with beautiful harmonic structure which passes through different cycle changes, yet with a spiritual, ethereal and mystical quality added to some of the flute and clarinet solo sections which almost sounds like improvisation. This is part of Dr. L. Subramaniam’s individualistic, masterful, unique way of writing in which he alone has been successful in using Indian concepts and Western concepts to create a totally original style of his own. As a leading critic from the Los Angeles Times says, “…. his writing… succeeded in ignoring and transcending whatever boundary lines that exist between Eastern and Western composition.
 

NEW ENGLAND CONSERVATORY ORCHESTRA *** >
Maestro L. Subramaniam
Boston

COLLEGIUM INSTRUMENTALE HALLE >
Maestro L. Subramaniam
India (To Celebrate Days of GDR Culture in India -Six performances)

MEMBERS OF LONDON PHILHARMONIC >
Maestro L. Subramaniam
London

SINGAPORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA >
Maestro L. Subramaniam
Singapore

LEIPZIGER KAMMERORCHESTER >
Maestro L. Subramaniam
Germany (Part of a special week of Dr. Subramaniam where he performed Indian Classical, his orchestral compositions and Bach’s. The concert with the orchestra was at the Gewandhaus, Leipzig, where they performed the Bach Double Concerto in D Minor with Dr. Subramaniam playing the 1^st Violin solo part.)

(TRANSCRIBED FOR STRING QUARTET)
PHILADELPHIA STRING QUARTET
Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (Part of Festival of India in the U.S.)

Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra
Dr. L. Subramaniam
Counducted by Maestro Svenn Skipper

London Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by L.Subramaniam

Leipzig Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra
Conducted by Michael Köhler

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