interpreted by GORDON BRYAN
EUGENE GOOSSENS: 'Ships'
Concert Study; Hurdy-Gurdy Man from 'Kaleidoscope'; Marionette Show from 'Four Conceits'
EUGENE GOOSSENS (born 1893), though of Flemish stock, is English by birth, and entirely so by adoption. He has inherited from his father great skill as a Conductor, and is an efficient String player and Pianist. He has written much strikingly individual music, and is definitely a 'modernist,' but there is nothing problematic in most of his works.
The three Ships pieces are entitled respectively The Tug, The Tramp, and The Liner.
The Hurdy-Gurdy is a faithful and amusing reproduction of the halting strains of a dilapidated street organ.
In The Marionette Show we have a glimpse apparently of a wrangle among the puppets, for after a little jerky music that depicts their odd movements, we end up with what seem to be blows and squeals.