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Susan Spain-Dunk Early life and education

Susan Spain-Dunk was born in Folkestone, Kent and studied at the Royal Academy of Music. She was the violinist and violist of the Winifred Small Quartet (where the 2nd violin and viola interchanged), which was formed in 1926. This quartet became well known for putting together “Anthology Programs” with “the intention of attracting the attention of musical laymen to the beauties of chamber music.” (1) Music career Spain-Dunk gained initial recognition as a composer due to her impressive chamber compositions. During the span of her lifetime, she has had many public performances of her chamber works along with orchestral works. The list of pieces she had performed at the BBC Promenade Concerts in the 1920s included the Suite for Strings in 1924, Idyll for strings and Romantic Piece for flute and strings in 1925, and the Kentish Downs Overture in 1926. Even having commissioned major orchestral performances with the Bournemouth Symphony, the British Women’s Symphony Orchestra and at the Eastbourne Festival, Spain-Dunk remains a relatively unknown composer. Reception Musicologist Marion Scott writes:

“In Miss Susan Spain-Dunk [Mrs Henry Gibson] we have a composer of real promise, and one who ought to count for something in the progress of women chamber music writers. In her Violin Sonata, her Phantasy for Pianoforte Trio, and her String Quartet in the usual four-movement form, we have music which is the direct result of an impulse toward expression. One feels that something is being expressed-not merely that a structure of notes has been laboriously compiled. The Trio would appear to be the earliest opus, and this astonishes one with the amount of ideas which it contains. There is no question of paucity of material-no flogging of a dead horse, no dressing up of lifeless dummies. Real vital subjects spring into sound and clothe themselves in appropriate technical vesture without appearance of effort. The Violin Sonata is perhaps a little commonplace, a little monotonous in subject; but here again one is glad to notice the nice musical instinct which makes an idea develop naturally, which keeps the music alive and growing. The String Quartet is undoubtedly the best work of the three. Each of the four parts has an individuality, and there is a significance in all the phrases which marks a great advance in musical thought. Points of imitation are made, not because they are "something for the instruments to do," but because they contribute to the musical argument; and other effective details, such as some special treatment of the 'cello or viola, occur, not haphazard, but at the bidding of a refined musical sense. The imagination has been at work all through, and, marvellous to say, the Scherzo shows a sense of humour!” (3)

List of works Orchestral

'Elaine' Symphonic poem  1927  performed at the London promenade concerts 'Stone Henge' Symphonic poem 'Kentish Downs' Overture  performed at the London promenade concerts 'Waterlily Pool' Overture for flute, harp and strings 'Weald of Kent' Fantasia for orchestra Four Spanish Dances for piano and orchestra (orchestrated from piano works) Cantilena for clarinet and orchestra Two Scottish pieces for orchestra Op.54/1. 'By St.Mary's Loch', 54/2. 'Kerrera' (also a version for violin and piano) Idyll for strings 1925 performed at the London promenade concerts Suite for string orchestra in B minor 1920  performed at the London promenade concerts 'Serenade de Capri' 1928 'Karisima' 1928 'Farmer's Boy' for flute and strings 1929 'Andred's Weald ' - for military orchestra 1925 'Notre Dame d'Albert' tone poem 1931 'Highland Overture' 1935 'The Flute Player of Brindaven' 1939 'Blessed Sonya' prelude 'Kentonia' concert march Romantic piece for flute and strings 1925 performed at the London promenade concerts Legend for oboe and strings 1955 'Cinque Ports' suite - 'Dover Castle', 'Rye Harbour', Winchelsea Gate'. 1958 'Malaya' tone poem 1958

Chamber

Phantasy piano trio in A minor 1907 (Cobbett prize) String quartet in B flat minor Phantasy string quartet in D minor 1915  pub. by Goodwin & Tabb Trio for two violins and piano Violin sonata in B minor 1908 (Cobbett prize) Violin sonata in D minor Violin sonata in C minor 'Lorelei' Legend for violin and oiano 1933 'Dead Roses' for violin and piano 'Halligen' Scandinavian dance for violin and piano 1908 'Springdas' Scandinavian dance for violin and piano 1908 'Jaraba' Spanish dance for violin and piano Op/57 'Winter Song' for cello and piano Petite Serenade for flute and piano 1907 Two pieces for violin and viola 1. 'In the lonely moor' 2. 'Jig' Sextet in F major 1941 Wind quintet

Piano

Six Spanish Dances - La Madrilena, El Jaleo, Aragonaise, Pepita, Cachucha, El Ole. 1936 - for were later orchestrated. Prelude in D minor 1941

Choral

'The Babtism of Jesus' cantata  1959 References

1. http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/Name/Archaeus-String-Quartet/Ensemble/72878-4 2. http://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php?topic=5902.0 3. http://landofllostcontent.blogspot.com/2009/09/susan-spain-dunk-note-in-music-student.html 3a. originally published in The Music Student Chamber music supplement July 1914 pp.97-8 [with minor edits]