Author Description
First published in 1978 The Ordeal of Ivor Gurney is a moving and extraordinary account of a tragic genius penned by the composer Michael Hurd. Born in Gloucester in 1890 Ivor Gurney began writing songs and poems in his teens, taking his inspiration from the Severn Valley countryside where he grew up. Sent to the Western Front during the First World War Gurney experienced desolation and horror that made a profound impression on him. He ended his days in an asylum, but at his death in 1937 he was beginning to be acknowledged as one of England's finest composers. Still, it took several more decades for his work as a war poet to be fully appreciated. 'Hurd compresses into a taut, sympathetic outline the initial optimism and later torment of Gurney's ill-starred life... distinguished by its crisp use of poetic extracts.' PN Review
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This biography investigates the tragic life and creative output of Ivor Gurney, seeking to reconcile his dual identity as a promising composer and a significant war poet. Michael Hurd, a fellow composer, utilizes his professional insight to examine how Gurney's early life in the Severn Valley, his traumatic experiences on the Western Front, and his eventual mental decline shaped his artistic contributions. The text argues for a holistic understanding of Gurney's work, positioning him as a figure whose creative brilliance was inextricably linked to his psychological suffering.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- A chronological account of Gurney's life from his birth in 1890 to his death in 1937.
- Analysis of the influence of the Severn Valley landscape on his early compositions and poetry.
- Examination of the impact of World War I trench warfare on his mental health and creative output.
- Integration of primary source poetic extracts to illustrate his evolving thematic concerns.
Scope Limits
- The text does not provide a comprehensive musicological analysis of every composition.
- It does not offer a clinical psychiatric diagnosis of Gurney's condition beyond the historical context of his asylum years.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Critics and scholars frequently cite this work as a foundational, sympathetic account that helped bring Gurney's dual legacy to a wider audience. Readers often note the clarity of Hurd's prose and his ability to balance the technical aspects of Gurney's music with the emotional weight of his poetry.
Page Count:
229
Publication Date:
1984-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0192814869
ISBN-13:
9780192814869
Music
Poetry
Biography
History
British literature
Authors english
World War