Answer:
Theme (8-measure theme in D minor presented six times to demonstrate the full orchestra
and its four main families):
1. Full Orchestra 2. Woodwinds 3. Brass 4. Strings 5. Percussion 6. Full Orchestra
13 Variations (each demonstrating a different instrument or combination of instruments):
Featured Instrument(s) Accompanied by
Woodwinds:
Variation 1: Flutes and piccolo
Variation 2: Oboes
Variation 3: Clarinets
Variation 4: Bassoons
Strings:
Variation 5: Violins
Variation 6: Violas
Variation 7: Cellos
Variation 8: Double basses
Variation 9: Harp
Brass:
Variation 10: French horns
Variation 11: Trumpets
Variation 12: Trombones, tuba
Percussion:
Variation 13: various combinations
• Timpani, bass drum & cymbals
• Timpani, tambourine & triangle
• Timpani, snare drum & wood block
• Timpani, castanets & gong
• Timpani, whip and entire percussion
Fugue (based on a fragment of Purcell's theme, played in imitation by each instrument in order
of the previous variations—woodwinds, strings, brass, percussion, full orchestra)
Outline of the structure of this work:
Violins, harp & triangle
Strings & timpani
Strings & tuba
Strings & snare drum
Brass & bass drum
Woodwinds & brass
Clarinets, viola& harp
Woodwinds & tambourine
Strings, gong & cymbal
Strings, harp & timpani
Strings & snare drum
Woodwinds and high brass
Explanation:
Fugue (based on a fragment of Purcell's theme, played in imitation by each instrument in order
of the previous variations—woodwinds, strings, brass, percussion, full orchestra)
Benjamin Britten was the most important British composer of the 20th century. He wrote over
100 major works including operas, songs, string quartets and other chamber works, a violin
concerto, choral works, incidental music, symphonies and other orchestral works. Of these, he
is best known for the Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, Op. 34 (1934)—a sixteen
minute work designed to introduce listeners to the various instruments and families of the modern
orchestra. This work featuresa theme and variations design based on the melodic theme from
the English Baroque composer Henry Purcell's incidental music to the play Abdelazar ("The
Moor's Revenge").
