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Writer Vikram Seth at home. DB3952P13

CONFLUENCES is a quite remarkable project, a groundbreaking four-year collaboration involving writer Vikram Seth, composer Alec Roth, violinist Philippe Honoré, and commissioned by Salisbury International Arts Festival.

For Songs in Times of War, the first in the cycle, Vikram was inspired by the writings of the Chinese poet, Du Fu. Last year, the cultural focus was based on the poetry of George Herbert and the music of J S Bach. Both Parts I and II were performed in the intimate surroundings of Wilton's Italianate church.

This year's work, The Traveller, scored for violin, tenor, chorus and orchestra takes its literary inspiration from India, and will be performed in the grandeur of Salisbury Cathedral.

Naturally, Vikram Seth will be there, and he talks about his inspiration for this year's work.

"I knew at some stage during this cycle, I would return to India, and this year my mind drifted homeward."

In addition to writing six new poems, Vikram has translated more than 20 Indian texts to create a work themed on the ages of man.

Vikram has translated from many Indian languages - Hindi, Urdu, Bengali and Tamil - and from a variety of sources, ranging from the Buddhist scripture, Dhammapada to something from the Sanskrit text, Bhagavad Gita.

What is so fascinating though is the way that Vikram has structured the work.

"Seven stanzas are from the Rig Veda (ancient, sacred verse writings of Hinduism), and between these parts follow the travel of our life, beginning with the unborn and going through to death.

"For each of these six zones or ages, I have written my own poems, or discussions."

And to further complicate the matter, Vikram has made each of his poems the same length in terms of syllables.

"Each poem contains a 48-syllable system, but will be different in rhythm and feel."

When asked what influences composer Alec Roth will be using in his music, Vikram replies: "Alec has spent some time in Indonesia and is influenced by the gamelan, but there will be no direct connection with Indian music. Alec is a wonderful composer and Philippe is a wonderful violinist, and I know it will be beautiful."

Of the fourth work in the cycle, Vikram Seth says this is an unknown at present, but promises one thing: "It is likely to be very different to what has gone before."

The Confluences cycle demonstrates that Vikram Seth's written works to date defy convention.

His works include a novel in verse, (The Golden Gate, published in 1986), a libretto (Arion and the Dolphin), travelogue, (From Heaven Lake, an autobiographical account of his journey from Nepal to India, published in 1980), plus novels and memoir.

A Suitable Boy, his epic, best-selling novel about post-colonial India, put Vikram into the public gaze and won several awards. Its length alone, at 1,300 pages, is a talking point, and it took the author ten years to write.

An Equal Music, his second novel, centres on the lives of two gifted classical musicians, with J S Bach's haunting work, The Art of Fugue, running as a thread, and a testament to the author's love and understanding of music.

His most recent book, Two Lives, published in 2005, is a personal and loving memoir of his "Shanti Uncle" and "Aunty Henny", his great-uncle and German Jewish aunt, who first met in Germany and left before the Holocaust, and of their marriage and life in post-war Britain.

Of his next written work, he has "an inkling of an idea," but he says, "I need an impulsion, that's what gets one going."

10:30am Thursday 24th April 2008

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