The Flute Player of Brindavan

Photograph of a sculpture of Lord Krishna playing a flute. — **Sculpture of Lord Krishna playing the flute, Lakshminarsimha Temple, Javagal, Hassan, Karnataka, India.** Photograph: ephotocorp/Alamy

The Flute Player of Brindavan is the first of two symphonic works (the second being Somya Devi) that were the result of Susan’s association with friends who studied Hindu mysticism. They met at Bayswater in London to hear the lectures of Dr. Hari Shastri, who taught Yoga philosophy. At one of these meetings she heard Dr. Shastri relate a story about the Hindu god Krishna, which he used as a spiritual allegory. Some disciples at Brindavan once heard Krishna’s flute playing in the distance and felt compelled to dance. Krishna appeared and joined in the dance. Then at the height of the dance he suddenly vanished from their midst. Susan translated her impressions of this story into a tone poem in 1939 and it was scored for a small orchestra. She dedicated it to Dr. Shastri.

The piece was not performed until the BBC recorded it on 13 November 1954 and broadcast it in the Morning Melody programme on Sunday 14 November 1954. Perhaps somewhere in the BBC sound archives that recording may still exist.

Peter Cigleris has transcribed and edited the score and parts from Susan’s original manuscript, so it is available for performances and recordings if the opportunity arises.

A letter from composer and conductor Gilbert Vinter to Susan Spain-Dunk, explaining that The Flute Player of Brindavan will soon be recorded and broadcast by the BBC. — **A letter from Gilbert Vinter to Susan about a forthcoming BBC recording and broadcast of The Flute Player of Brindavan.**

Part of the cover of the manuscript of The Flute Player of Brindavan by Susan Spain-Dunk, with a dedication to Hari Prasad Shastri. — Cover of manuscript of The Flute Player of Brindavan for Small Orchestra, dedicated "to Hari Prasad Shastri". Susan has also noted the date of first broadcast as 13 November 1954, by the BBC Midland Orchestra conducted by Gilbert Vinter.

Part of the cover of the manuscript of The Flute Player of Brindavan by Susan Spain-Dunk, with a brief note on the work which reads: The Flute Player of Brindavan is Shri Krishna, the Hindu God. His disciples hear him playing his Flute, in the distance, and commence to dance, in which Krishna joins them till he suddenly vanishes, and they are left alone. — The manuscript cover of The Flute Player of Brindavan also includes a brief note by Susan: "The Flute Player of Brindavan is Shri Krishna, the Hindu God. His disciples hear him playing his Flute, in the distance, and commence to dance, in which Krishna joins them till he suddenly vanishes, and they are left alone."

An excerpt from the manuscript of The Flute Player of Brindavan, from the conductor's score showing the first few bars of the work. — **Excerpt from manuscript of conductor's score of The Flute Player of Brindavan.**