woodwinds, strings, brass and percussion in turn. Once everyone has entered, the brass are re-introduced (with a strike on the tamtam) with Purcell's original melody. The sections of the piece and instruments introduced by the variations are as follows. Theme Allegro maestoso e largamente Tutti (D minor), woodwinds (F major), brass (E♭ major), strings (G minor), then percussion (written in A major) Variation A Presto Flutes and piccolo Variation B Lento Oboes Variation C Moderato Clarinets Variation D Allegro alla marcia Bassoons Variation E Brillante: alla polacca Violins Variation F Meno mosso Violas Variation G Lusingando Cellos Variation H Cominciando lento ma poco a poco accel. al Allegro Double basses Variation I Maestoso Harp Variation J L'istesso tempo Horns Variation K Vivace Trumpets Variation L Allegro pomposo Trombones and tuba Variation M Moderato Percussion (timpani; bass drum and cymbals; tambourine and triangle; snare drum and woodblock; xylophone; castanets and tam-tam; whip; percussion tutti) Fugue Allegro molto Narration The narration for the documentary film was written by Eric Crozier, the producer of the first production of Britten's opera Peter Grimes, and is sometimes spoken by the conductor or a separate speaker during performance of the piece. The composer also arranged a version without narration. The one without narration is more often recorded. The commentary often differs among recordings. A new narration was written by Simon Butteriss for the Aldeburgh Festival and broadcast live by CBBC presenter Johny Pitts with the BBC Symphony Orchestra for the Britten 100 celebrations in 2013. Comedian and author John Hodgman wrote a new narration of The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra in 2015 for a series of performances with the Boston Pops Orchestra. Jazz orchestra versions Duncan Lamont wrote an equivalent suite of variations (using the same Purcell theme) for jazz orchestra and narrator, The Young Person’s Guide to the Jazz Orchestra. Mike Westbrook's After Smith's Hotel, subtitled The Young Person’s Guide To The Jazz Orchestra, was commissioned by the Snape Maltings Foundation and performed there in October 1983. See also List of variations on a theme by another composer References Further reading Boosey & Hawkes No. 606. Benjamin Britten – The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, Opus 34 History of the London Symphony Orchestra on Film External links Animated guide presented by Carnegie Hall BBC Radio 4 programme about the piece and the score manuscript Compositions by Benjamin Britten Variations 1945 compositions Compositions