Benjamin Britten’s The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra is a captivating composition designed to introduce the instruments of the orchestra to a young audience. Originally commissioned by the British Ministry of Education for the film Instruments of the Orchestra in 1946, this piece remains a popular and accessible introduction to orchestral music. The concert premiere took place in Liverpool, England, on October 15, 1946.
Purcell’s Theme and Orchestral Sections
Britten based his work on a stately rondeau by the English Baroque composer Henry Purcell, specifically from his score to Abdelazer. Initially, the full orchestra presents Purcell’s theme in its entirety. Britten then skillfully showcases the distinct sound qualities, or timbres, of each orchestral section.
He does this by having each section—woodwinds, brass, strings, and percussion—restate the theme in succession. This allows listeners to clearly distinguish the unique sonic character of each instrumental family before the full orchestra returns to play the theme once more. This structure makes it easy for young listeners to identify the different instrument groups.
Variations and Instrumental Features
The subsequent section of The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra features variations on Purcell’s theme, highlighting individual instruments within each family. Britten begins with the woodwind section, proceeding to strings, brass, and finally percussion – a different order than the opening section.
Within each family, he generally begins with the highest-pitched instruments, such as flutes and piccolo in the woodwinds, and moves toward the lowest, like the bassoon. He utilizes varied tempi and dynamics to fully exploit the diverse timbres of each instrument. In the percussion section, instruments capable of playing specific pitches, such as timpani and xylophone, receive particular attention, while the rhythmic contributions of other percussion instruments are not overlooked.
Fugue and Grand Finale
In the final portion of the composition, Britten masterfully combines all the orchestral sections in a complex fugue. This fugue is based on a new, dance-like theme derived from Purcell’s original melody.
The choice of a fugue is particularly fitting, as this musical form was highly popular during the Baroque era, Purcell’s time. The fugue begins with the flutes and piccolo, with each instrument introducing the new melody in turn. Overlapping layers of music gradually build in complexity. This showcases not only the contrasting voices of the instruments but also musical techniques from earlier centuries. Listeners can hear how a melody passes from one instrument to another while other melodic ideas are layered in the background. The piece concludes with a grand finale, where the original Purcell theme returns in its full, stately form, set boldly beneath the dance-like fugue theme. This provides a satisfying resolution and reinforces the connection to the Baroque origins of the work.
In essence, The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra offers a comprehensive and engaging exploration of the orchestra’s instruments and their capabilities. Britten’s work remains a timeless classic, continuing to inspire and educate young audiences about the wonders of orchestral music.
