Pastoral and Harlequinade for Woodwind trio of Flute, Oboe and Piano was written by Eugène Goossens. Difficult to play, it is divided into two distinct pieces: the Pastoral (Andante con motto) and the Harlequinade (Allegro).

The Piano, which starts the Pastoral on its own during six measures, is joined by the Flute and followed seven measures later by the Oboe. This first is quite slow, with sounds reminiscent of the countryside. To the contrary, the Harlequinade begins with the Flute and Oboe which are then followed by the Piano. More cheerful from the beginning, it features a dialogue between the Flute, the Oboe and the Piano.

These very lyrical pieces are a delight to play and to listen to and should definitely be programed for a recital.

Eugène Goossens was an English composer renowned by his peers, who also worked for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. He was knighted in 1955.