A.R. Rahman is set to release 16 new compositions in partnership with the Dubai-based Firdaus Orchestra, American entertainment website Variety has reported.

The first of the 16 tracks, titled Unsung, is set to be out this week. It will serve as a tribute to the unsung heroes of our society. “They just do things — like an angel, or a fairy godmother or father. And they do things, helping other people to shine. It could be your parents, teacher, it could be somebody who gives charity, can be somebody who’s creating something incredible, but they don’t want to be known. They just wanted to do it for humanity. So it’s a tribute to all those people behind something great, but they don’t want to be celebrated,” Rahman told Variety.

The Firdaus Orchestra is a groundbreaking ensemble of 55 women musicians from 25 countries. The brainchild of Reem Al Hashimy, CEO of Expo City Dubai, the Firdaus Orchestra is a platform for cultural exchange and artistic expression that has flourished under Rahman’s mentorship. Monica Woodman, the orchestra’s conductor, leads the ensemble.

Rahman’s set of 16 compositions, predominantly instrumental with hints of choral elements, will explore a myriad of themes ranging from humanity and space to love and relationships. A 17-minute opus titled Humanitas, infused with Indian classical elements, will be the next composition to be released. The rest of the music pieces will be unveiled through the year.

Reflecting on the allure of instrumental music, the Academy Award-winning composer told Variety: “People love instrumental music, people love music without words, because some of those pieces actually speak much more than just words. Sometimes the language limits an audience to certain things, but here when you talk about instrumental, especially orchestral music, it has a more global appeal.”