Howells wrote Penguinski for a visit made to the Royal College of Music in London on 10 May 1933. This score pays light and affectionate tribute to the considerable popularity of Stravinksy in London from the teens of the twentieth century. In Penguinski Howells creates a knockabout piece which shadowboxes Petrushka. Whilst underlining Howells's versatility the score gives a colourful insight into the prevailing influences of the time and is an intriguing example of how Stravinsky must have sounded to his English contemporaries.
