I’m working on a music theory discussion question and need support to help me learn.

 Here is a link to the video of a performance of the piece on YouTube:

Part 1:http://youtu.be/OaGltkHps5U (You may skip the interview and go right to the 4’33” mark.);

Part 2: http://youtu.be/bVPHsNUgreU Read the guide and follow it while watching the performance.

Then answer these questions

1. What did you learn from listening to and following the guide for Britten’s “Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra”?
2. How is your knowledge from your previous reading assignments reinforced by this piece?
3. What was your favorite variation and why?
4. Below is an outline:  you might want to print this or download it to make a few notes. 

The Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra, Op. 34

This work is in theme and variation form; we will study this form in the Classical period.  Basically, it means you hear a section of music; then, you hear the same music repeated with different instruments, tempi, or dynamics. 

Instrumentation (performing forces): piccolo, flutes (2), oboes (2), clarinets (2), bassoons (2), French horns (4), trumpets (2), trombones (3), tuba, timpani, bass drum, snare drum, cymbals, tambourine, triangle, Chinese block, xylophone, castanets, gong, whip, strings

Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra was written in 1946 as a means to illustrate the sounds of musical instruments. The work is based on a melody (theme) by the 17th century English composer, Henry Purcell (1659-1695), which is presented at the outset by the full orchestra. Subsequently, various instrumental groups present the same theme 13 times, each of which is varied is some particular way, e.g., rhythm, tempo, instrumentation, etc. A musical work arranged in this way is said to be in a form known as theme and variations.

Theme: The full orchestra.

• The main melody begins to repeat but suddenly drops in volume, leading to a brief transition to the next section.
• Woodwinds.
• Transition to next section.
• Brass section. Low brasses begin, followed by trumpet.
• Transition to next section.
• Strings. Note the rhythm is slightly altered.
• A short motive from the main melody is passed from higher strings to lower strings.
• Percussion section begins with timpani playing first three notes of melody.
• Full orchestra repeats the opening of the main melody.

Woodwinds (Variations 1-4)

Variation 1. Flutes and piccolo accompanied by the harp.

Variation 2. Oboes accompanied by strings.

Variation 3. Clarinets.

Variation 4. Bassoons punctuated by strings. Notable change in rhythm

• Transition

Strings (Variations 5-9)

Variation 5. Violins accompanied by the low brass and incisive strokes of the bass drum.

• Transition.

Variation 6. Violas, very slow with punctuations in low brass.

Variation 7. Cellos, clarinet in background.

Variation 8. Double basses accompanied by tamborine and woodwinds.

• Transition, woodwinds.

Variation 9. Harp, accompanied by gong and cymbal.

Brasses (Variations (10-12)

Variation 10. French horns, strings in background, harp.

• Sudden timpani stroke.

Variation 11. Trumpets, introduced and accompanied by the snare drum.

Variation 12. Trombones and tuba in dialogue with orchestra.

• Solo tuba.

Percussion (Variation 13)

• Timpani, strings in background.
• Cymbals.
• Tambourine, strings in background.
• Triangle accompanied by woodwinds.
• Strings and snare drum.
• Chinese block (a hollow wooden block that is struck with a drumstick) and snare drum.
• Xylophone accompanied by strings.
• Castanets.
• Gong.
• Whip (two hinged pieces of wood that are slapped against each other).
• Percussion section; xylophone and triangle

Concluding Section

• Unaccompanied piccolo.
• Clarinets.
• Bassoons.
• Lively new tune played by upper strings.
• Lower strings.
• Woodwinds.
• Harp.
• Lively tune played in French horns.
• Trumpets.
• Trombones and tuba.
• Main melody in low brass accompanied by lively tune in high woodwinds and strings.
• Full orchestra, percussion, long-held closing chord.