Britten Thematic Catalogue

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BTC991 THE YOUNG PERSON'S GUIDE TO THE ORCHESTRA

Variations and fugue on a theme of Henry Purcell, for speaker and orchestra, or orchestra alone, op. 34
Composition date: 31 Dec 1945
First performance: 15 Oct 1946 >>
Type of performance: Concert performance
Location: Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool
Performance details:

Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Dr Malcolm Sargent cond

Genre: Orchestral
Text: Optional text by Eric Crozier (1914-1994)

An alternative text was prepared by John Amis in 1991.

Performing forces:

Picc, 2 fl, 2 ob, 2 cl in B flat and A, 2 bn - 4 hn, 2 tpt in C, 3 trbn, tuba - timp, 3 perc (bd, cymb, tamb, trgl, sd, Chinese block, xyl, castanets, gong, whip) - harp - str

Duration: 17'

With spoken commentary: 19

Dedication: 'This work is affectionately inscribed to the children of John and Jean Maud: Humphrey, Pamela, Caroline and Virginia, for their edification and entertainment'

John Maud, Baron Redcliffe Maud (1906-1982), Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education (1945-52); and Margaret Jean (Hamilton) Redcliffe-Maud, Baroness Redcliffe-Maud (1904-1993), a professional concert pianist.

Notes

The music was originally composed for a film, Instruments of the orchestra made by the Crown Film Unit for the Ministry of Education, produced by Alexander Shaw (b. 1910), directed by Muir Mathieson (1911-1975), with a script by Montagu Slater (1902-1956). The film featured the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Malcolm Sargent and was first screened on 29 November 1946 at the Empire Theatre, Leicester Square.

As a concert work, the piece may be performed with or without the commentary. The theme is the Rondeau from Purcell's Abdelazer, or the Moor's revenge, Z 570/2.

All content copyright (C) Britten-Pears Foundation 2012 unless stated. Please note all BTC numbers are provisional at this stage.