Susan Spain-Dunk

Image:CobbettPlaying.jpg (1929), illustrating W. W. Cobbett's private quartet. Susan Spain-Dunk is playing the viola.]]Susan was the third of four children (Ethel K Dunk b. 1876; John De Lanoy Dunk b. 1878; Susan Spain Dunk b. 1880; William Major b. 1882). Their father was a master plumber and house builder. Her second name, Spain, was added as the Dunk family were related to the Spain family. She studied violin and composition at The Royal Academy of Music, London with Alfred Gibson, Stewart Macpherson and Richard Walthew and later taught composition and harmony there. For a time she played the viola in a private quartet of Walter Cobbett. She also played (violin or viola) in the Winifred Small Quartet and Cobbett made suggestions for "Anthology" programmes for the quartet.{{cite book|last1=Hodges|first1=Betsi|title=W. W. Cobbett's Phantasy: A Legacy of Chamber Music in the British Musical Renaissance.|isbn=9780549559399|url=https://libres.uncg.edu/ir/uncg/f/umi-uncg-1533.pdf |page=26|access-date=21 December 2016}} She conducted some of her own works at the British Women's Symphony Orchestra.{{Cite web|url=http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2002/Oct02/distaff.htm|title=The Distaff Side: Some British Women Composers Scowcroft- Oct 2002 MusicWeb(UK)|website=Musicweb-international.com|access-date=24 July 2020}} She also conducted her own works at The London Promenade Concerts (1924-1927) and at Bournemouth,{{Cite book |last=Lloyd |first=Stephen |title=Sir Dan Godfrey: champion of British composers |publisher=Thames Publishing |year=1995 |isbn=0905210891 |location=London}} Folkestone, Eastbourne and Torquay. Susan Spain-Dunk also conducted work by other women composers, including Edith Swepstone's tone poem, A Vision.

In 1908 she married Henry Gibson (7 October 1882 - 22 July 1954). He was a minor composer, violinist, organist and pianist. The marriage lasted about sixteen years and she had one son, The Reverend Alan Henry Gibson (November 1911-September 1999),{{cite web|title=Newsletter No.1, January 2000|url=http://www.folkestonehistory.org/uploads/pdf/1%20Jan%202000.pdf|website=Folkestonehistory.org|access-date=21 December 2016}} and two grandchildren.{{cite web|title=Susan Spain-Dunk|url=http://www.unsungcomposers.com/forum/index.php?topic=5902.0|website=Unsungcomposers.com|access-date=21 December 2016}} In the mid-1930s she was living at 17, Elm Park Mansions in Chelsea. She died on 1 January 1962 aged 81.

Spain-Dunk appears in the book Some Folkestone Worthies by C.H. Bishop,{{cite book|last1=Bishop|first1=C.H.|title=Some Folkestone Worthies: Ten outstanding persons who have contributed to the life and development of old Folkestone|date=1970|publisher=Southern Litho Printing Co., Ltd.|location=Folkestone, Kent|url=https://www.abebooks.co.uk/book-search/title/thomas-cubitt/used/|access-date=21 December 2016}} and (anonymously) in the painting The Concert Party (1929) by Frank Owen Salisbury.Foreman, Lewis. Notes to Dutton CDLX 7398 (2022)

Her orchestral works include the Suite for String Orchestra (1920), the Idyll for Strings (1925), the overtures Water Lily Pool (1925) and Kentish Downs (1926), two symphonic poems: Elaine (1927) and Stonehenge (1929) and the Cantilena for clarinet and orchestra (1931). The Suite was premiered at the Proms on Thursday 21 August 1924.{{cite web|title=BBC Prom 11 21 Aug 1924 Queen's Hall|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ed2dgw|website=bbc.co.uk|publisher=BBC|access-date=21 December 2016}} There is a modern recording, from a new edition of the score edited by Peter Cigleris.[http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2022/Mar/British-strings3-5554572.htm 'British Music for Strings III', CPO 555 457-2, reviewed at MusicWeb International] The Idyll and Water Lily Pool (for flute, harp and strings) were both premiered at a British Women's Symphony Orchestra concert at Queen's Hall on 25 May 1925,{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GC3gNFJGzd8C&q=%22Spain-Dunk%22+%22Stonehenge%22|title=The Flute|first=Ardal|last=Powell|date=24 July 2002|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=0300094981|access-date=24 July 2020|via=Google Books}} and repeated at the Proms on 13 October 1925.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ew8p5v|title=Prom 57, Tue 13 Oct 1925 Queen's Hall |website=BBC Music Events|access-date=24 July 2020}}

Kentish Downs, first performed at the Proms on 30 August 1926 {{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/e5bfhn|title=Prom 14, Mon 30 Aug 1926 Queen's Hall |website=BBC|access-date=24 July 2020}} was revived on BBC Radio 3 in 1997 with the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Barry Wordsworth {{cite web|title=Issue 3812, p.104|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/radio3/1997-02-23|website=bbc.co.uk|publisher=BBC Radio Times|access-date=21 December 2016|ref=1997-02-23}} with a further BBC Radio 3 broadcast in 2001.{{cite web|title=Issue 4014, p.116|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/radio3/2001-02-06|website=bbc.co.uk|publisher=BBC Radio Times|access-date=21 December 2016}} Elaine was conducted by the composer at the Proms on 25 August 1927,{{cite web|title=Prom 11, 1927|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/emwq2m|website=bbc.co.uk|access-date=22 December 2016}} and Stonehenge was produced at the Eastbourne Festival in 1929The Times obituary, 8 January 1962 p18 and played again in Bournemouth in 1931.Musical Times, Vol 72 No 1060, June 1931 It was revived by the BBC Concert Orchestra in a broadcast from Watford Colosseum under conductor Anne-Marie Helsing on 19 January 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000226c|title=BBC Radio 3 - Afternoon Concert, BBC Concert Orchestra Live|website=BBC|access-date=24 July 2020}} The Idyll, Kentish Downs and Elaine are mentioned in the letters of Gerald Finzi and Howard Ferguson (p. 12).{{cite book |editor=Ferguson H. |editor2=Hurd, M. |title=Letters of Gerald Finzi and Howard Ferguson |date=2001 |publisher=The Boydell Press |location=Woodbridge |isbn=0-85115-823-4 |page=12 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tmGNIq3HdWUC&q=susan+spain-dunk+composer&pg=PA12}}

The Cantilena for clarinet and orchestra (sometimes known as Poem) was revived by the Folkestone Symphony Orchestra with soloist Peter Cigleris on 16 March 2019, its first performance since 1931.{{Cite web|url=https://www.folkestonesymphony.org/review|title=Past Concerts |website=Folkestonesymphony.org|access-date=4 November 2021}} It has since been recorded.[https://signumrecords.com/product/rediscovered-british-clarinet-concertos-by-dolmetsch-maconchy-spain-dunk-wishart/SIGCD656/ Rediscovered: British Clarinet Concertos, Signum Classics SIGCD656 (2020)]

One of Spain-Dunk's most popular chamber works is the Phantasy for String Quartet in G minor (1915).{{cite web|title=Susan Spain-Dunk|url=http://www.editionsilvertrust.com/spain-dunk--phantasy-qt.htm|website=Edition Silvertrust|access-date=21 December 2016}} A recording was made by the Archaeus String Quartet on the Lorelt Label and released on 27 June 2003.{{cite web|title=Smyth, Beach and Spain-Dunk|url=http://www.prestoclassical.co.uk/c/Spain-Dunk/all/1|website=Presto Classical|publisher=Lorelt|access-date=21 December 2016|ref=Catalogue No:LNT114}}{{cite web|last1=Arloff|first1=Steve|title=Review of LNT114: Smyth, Beach and Spain-Dunk|url=http://www.lorelt.co.uk/review/smyth_beach_spain-dunk/11|website=Lorelt.co.uk|publisher=Lontano Records Limited|access-date=21 December 2016}}{{cite web|last1=Jones|first1=Vaughan|title=Schubert, Van Bree and Spain Dunk!|url=http://www.manorhousemusic.co.uk/blog/2009/04/21/schubert-van-bree-and-spain-dunk/|website=manorhousemusic.co.uk|date=21 April 2009 |access-date=21 December 2016}} There are also modern recordings of her Violin Sonata No 3 in C minor (1910),[http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2022/Sep/SpainDunk-violin-GMCD7827.htm Guild GMCD7827 (2022), reviewed at MusicWeb International] Piano Quartet (circa 1920) and Rhapsody Quintet for wind ensemble.[http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2022/Sep/Wind-british-CDLX7398.htm Dutton Epoch CDLX7398 (2022)] The autograph manuscript of the Quartet in B flat minor was written and dated March 1914 with an address of 49 Castletown Road, West Kensington, London.{{cite web|last1=Spain-Dunk|first1=Susan|title=Quartet No.1 in B flat minor|url=http://library.leeds.ac.uk/special-collections-explore/8415/string_quartet_no1_in_b_flat_minor_composed_by_s.|website=library.leeds.ac.uk|access-date=21 December 2016}}{{cite journal |last1=West |first1=A. |title=Another Susan Spain-Dunk Quartet |journal=Chamber Music Journal |date=Spring 2003 |volume=14 |issue=1 |issn=1535-1726 |page=2 |url=http://chambermusicjournal.org/pdf/Vol14-no1.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616021355/http://chambermusicjournal.org/pdf/Vol14-no1.pdf |url-status=usurped |archive-date=16 June 2015 |access-date=21 December 2016}}{{cite book|last1=Seddon|first1=Laura|title=British Women Composers and Instrumental Chamber Music in the Early Twentieth Century|date=2013|publisher=Ashgate Publishing|location=UK|isbn=978-1409439455|pages=134–141}}

Andred's Weald - for military orchestra (1925) – was conducted by Spain-Dunk on 28 February 1929 with the Bournemouth Municipal Orchestra.{{cite web|last1=Spain-Dunk|first1=Susan|title=Andred's Weald|url=http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/schedules/5gbx/1929-02-28|website=bbc.co.uk|access-date=21 December 2016}}

Andred's Weald was published as the Farmer's Boy overture. It was recorded and broadcast on BBC Radio 3 by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in 2021.They also recorded Kentonia, Malaya, Two Scottish Pieces and made a new recording of The Kentish Downs.

Two of Spain-Dunk's choral works, Verses from Psalm 43 and her cantata The Baptism of Jesus have been recorded by The BBC Singers.

A World Premiere performance of her two Preludes for Piano, by Duncan Honeybourne, was broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in May 2021.{{Cite web |title=BBC Radio 3 - Radio 3 Lunchtime Concert, Schumann Plus performed by Peter Cigleris and Duncan Honeybourne |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000w5ds |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=BBC |language=en-GB}}

Spain-Dunk's orchestral works and much of her chamber music have been transcribed and edited from her manuscripts by [https://www.petercigleris.com Peter Cigleris]. This has led to a number of works being recorded by BBC orchestras and broadcast.

The following works are known to have been recorded and released:

• Phantasy Quartet in D minor. Archaeus String Quartet. [https://www.lorelt.co.uk/114 LORELT LNT114] (2003).
• Karisma. Palm Court Light Orchestra, conducted by Charles Job. [http://www.palmcourtorchestra.com/sales.htm Palm Court Souvenirs] (2008).
• Phantasy Quartet. Suffrage Sinfonia, conducted by Alice Farnham. [https://www.universalmusic.it/musica-classica/album/the-lost-women-of-music_32815876667/ The Lost Women Of Music] (2019).
• Cantilena for Clarinet and Orchestra, Op. 51. Edited by Peter Cigleris. Peter Cigleris clarinet, Deian Rowlands harp, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Ben Palmer. [https://signumrecords.com/product/rediscovered-british-clarinet-concertos-by-dolmetsch-maconchy-spain-dunk-wishart/SIGCD656/ Cala Signum SIGCD656] (2021).
• Suite in B Minor for string orchestra and Lament for string orchestra. Edited by Peter Cigleris. Sudwestdeutsches Kammerorchester Pforzheim, conducted by Douglas Bostock. [https://www.chandos.net/products/catalogue/CX%205457 CPO CX 5457] (2021).
• Violin Sonata no 3 in C minor, Violin Sonata in B minor and Les Sylphes. Patrick Wastnage violin, Elizabeth Dunn piano. [https://www.guildmusic.com/shop/index.php Guild GMCD7828] (2022).
• Piano Quartet. Edited by Peter Cigleris (2021). Tippett Quartet, Lynn Arnold piano. [https://www.duttonvocalion.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=CDLX7396 Dutton Epoch CDLX 7396] (2022).
• Rhapsody Quintet. Edited by Peter Cigleris (2021). Camarilla Ensemble. [https://www.duttonvocalion.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=CDLX7398 Dutton Epoch CDLX 7398] (2022)
• The Water Lily Pool, Petite Serenade and Valse Caprice. Anna Noakes flute, Leo Nicholson piano. [https://www.duttonvocalion.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=CDLX7409 Dutton Epoch CDLX 7409] (2024).

• Suite for string orchestra in B minor (1920)
• Andred's Weald, for military orchestra (1925)
• Idyll for strings (1925)
• Water Lily Pool, Overture for flute, harp and strings (1925) (also variously known as Romantic Piece and Sketch)
• Kentish Downs, Overture (1926)
• Elaine, symphonic poem (1927)
• Karisima (1928)
• Kentonia, concert march (1928)Recorded by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, conductor Stephen Bell in July 2021, Glasgow, for BBC broadcasts
• Serenade de Capri (1928)
• Farmer's Boy, Overture (1929)[https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p072w86w BBC archive recording, January 1945]. BBC Midland Light Orchestra conducted by Rae Jenkins
• Stonehenge, symphonic poem (1929)
• Cantilena for clarinet and orchestra (also known as Poem) (1931)
• Notre Dame d'Albert, tone poem (1931)
• Highland Overture (1935)
• The Flute Player of Brindaven (1939)
• Somya Devi (Prelude) (1940)
• Legend for oboe and strings (1955)
• Cinque Ports Suite - 'Dover Castle', 'Rye Harbour', Winchelsea Gate' (1958)
• Malaya, tone poem (1958)
• Weald of Kent, Fantasia for orchestra
• Four Spanish Dances for piano and orchestra (orchestrated from piano works)
• Two Scottish Pieces for orchestra, Op.54/1. 'By St.Mary's Loch', 54/2. 'Kerrera' (also a version for violin and piano)
• Blessed Sonya, prelude
• Lament for string orchestra[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000t74f BBC broadcast, 19 March, 2021, BBC SO, conducted by Michael Collins]www.bbc.co.uk/sounds {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210319133856/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000t74f |date=19 March 2021 }}

• Petite Serenade for flute and piano (1907)
• Phantasy piano trio in A minor (1907) (Cobbett prize)
• Halligen, Scandinavian dance for violin and piano (1908)
• Springdays, Scandinavian dance for violin and piano (1908)
• Violin Sonata in B minor (1908) (Cobbett prize - only the Romance survives)
• Violin Sonata No 3 in C minor (c. 1910)
• String Quartet in B flat minor (1914)
• Phantasy string quartet in D minor (1915), pub. Goodwin & Tabb, London.{{cite web|title=Phantasy Quartet|url=http://imslp.org/wiki/Phantasy_Quartet_(Spain-Dunk,_Susan)|website=imslp.org|publisher=Goodwin & Tabb|access-date=22 December 2016}}
• Piano Quartet (c.1920, ed. Peter Cigleris, 2021)[http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2022/Aug/SpainDunk-piano-CDLX7396.htm Dutton Epoch CDLX7396 (2022)]
• Les Sylphes (c.1926-29) for violin and piano
• Lorelei Legend for violin and piano (1933)
• Jarabe, Spanish dance for violin and piano, Op.57 (1933)
• Winter Song for cello and piano (1938)
• Sextet in F major (1941)
• Dead Roses for violin and piano
• Two pieces for violin and viola: 'The lonely moor'; 'Jig'{{cite web|title=Two Pieces|url=http://britishmusiccollection.org.uk/score/two-pieces-29|website=British Music Collection|date=20 April 2009|publisher=Stainer & Bell|access-date=22 December 2016}}
• Trio for two violins and piano
• Violin Sonata in D minor
• Wind quintet

• Six Spanish Dances - La Madrilena, El Jaleo, Aragonaise, Pepita, Cachucha, El Ole (1936) - four were later orchestrated.
• London Pride (1937)
• Two pieces for two pianos based on two hymns by Rev. H. J. Trueman (1941)
• Piano Preludes No 1 and 2 (1941)[https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000w5ds Broadcast performance by Duncan Honeybourne, 20 May, 2021]

• Organ Prelude No 2 (1941), edited by Andrew Johnstone (2024).

• Farmer's Boy Overture (1935)

• Sonnets from the Portuguese - How Do I Love Thee? (1920)
• Verses from Psalm 43 - Send Out Thy Light (1958)
• The Baptism of Jesus, cantata (1959)

• Song for Devon (1925)
• Watch Your Step (1925)
• London Pride (1937)
• Cinque Ports Suite - Dover Castle, Rye Beach, Winchelsea Gate (1958)

• Kentonia (March) (1925)
• Serenade for Military Band (1925)
• Song for Devon (1925)
• Farmer's Boy (1935)
• Scottish Phantasy (1937)
• Weald of Kent (March) (1940)

• Bishop, C.H: Some Folkestone Worthies: Ten outstanding persons who have contributed to the life and development of old Folkestone (published by Printed by Southern Litho Printing Co., Ltd., Folkestone circa 1970), pp. 48 with monochrome illustrations and photographs.
• Finzi, Gerald; Ferguson, Howard; Hurd, Michael: Letters of Gerald Finzi and Howard Ferguson (Boydell & Brewer, 2001 - Biography & Autobiography), pp. 310. July 2001 {{ISBN|9780851158235}}
• Hodges, Betsi: W. W. Cobbett's Phantasy: A Legacy of Chamber Music in the British Musical Renaissance. (Ph.D. Dissertation, University of North Carolina, Greensboro. ProQuest, 2008), pp. 81 (p. 26)
• Powell, Ardal: The Flute (Yale University Press, 2002), pp. 347. {{ISBN|978-0300094985}}
• Sadie, Julie Anne and Samuel, Rhian (eds.) The New Grove Dictionary of Women Composers (London: Macmillan, 1994).
• Seddon, Laura: British Women Composers and Instrumental Chamber Music in the Earliest Twentieth Century (Farnham: Ashgate, 2013), pp. 248. {{ISBN|978-1-409-43945-5}} (hb)

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• [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p08j8chn Stonehenge (1929), performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra, conductor Anna-Maria Helsing]

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Category:1880 births

Category:1962 deaths

Category:Alumni of the Royal Academy of Music

Category:English women classical composers

Category:People from Folkestone

Category:20th-century British violinists

Category:20th-century English classical composers

Category:British women violinists

Category:Musicians from Kent

Category:20th-century English women composers