Britten’s “The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra”: Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Purcell
The title, The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Op. 34 describes a narrator-driven work which brilliantly introduces the instruments, showcasing their distinct tonal colors and personas. The subtitle, Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Purcell, suggests a concert piece which stands on its own without narration. Benjamin Britten’s Young Person’s Guide functions on both levels. It was commissioned for a 1946 British documentary film, Instruments of the Orchestra. Directed by Muir Mathieson, the film …