It seems natural than Delhi-born and Brighton-based Param Vir should celebrate multiculturalism in his compositions. He has effected a convincing assimilation of the best of Western and Eastern tradition in his new piece The Theatre of Magical Beings, written for the Birmingham Contemporary Music Group and premièred by them on 6 May as part of their highly successful ‘Sound Investment’ scheme. At 25 minutes' duration and requiring 25 players, it is one of the most substantial works ever to come out of the project. The scoring even seems extravagant for a contemporary chamber ensemble: it calls for 12 string players and there is a considerable array of exotic percussion instruments, split into two groups of skin, wood and metal.