Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge / The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra

Album by Benjamin Britten & English Chamber Orchestra & London Symphony Orchestra & Steuart Bedford

Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge / The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra is an album of orchestral works by Benjamin Britten, comprising pieces composed in 1937 and 1945. The release showcases Britten's orchestral language and mastery of instrumental colour and form, pairing a set of variations with a work that isolates and develops individual timbres, and marks a stage in his early-to-mid career during which he refined his approach to orchestration.
First released: 2005

Tracklist

  1. 1.
    Occasional Overture
    7:31
  2. 2.
    Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, op. 10: Introduction and Theme
    1:50
  3. 3.
    Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, op. 10: Variation 1: Adagio
    1:59
  4. 4.
    Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, op. 10: Variation 2: March
    1:08
  5. 5.
    Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, op. 10: Variation 3: Romance
    1:24
  6. 6.
    Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, op. 10: Variation 4: Aria italiana
    1:18
  7. 7.
    Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, op. 10: Variation 5: Bourrée Classique
    1:35
  8. 8.
    Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, op. 10: Variation 6: Wiener Waltzer
    2:47
  9. 9.
    Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, op. 10: Variation 7: Moto Perpetuo
    1:11
  10. 10.
    Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, op. 10: Variation 8: Funeral March
    3:34
  11. 11.
    Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, op. 10: Variation 9: Chant
    1:32
  12. 12.
    Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, op. 10: Variation 10: Fugue and Finale
    7:29
  13. 13.
    Prelude and Fugue for 18-part String Orchestra, op. 29: I. Prelude: Grave
    3:43
  14. 14.
    Prelude and Fugue for 18-part String Orchestra, op. 29: II. Fugue: Allegro energico
    3:23
  15. 15.
    Prelude and Fugue for 18-part String Orchestra, op. 29: III. Coda: Grave coma prima
    2:42
  16. 16.
    The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, op. 34 “Variations and Fugue on a theme of Henry Purcell”: Theme
    1:57
  17. 17.
    The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, op. 34 “Variations and Fugue on a theme of Henry Purcell”: Variation A - The Flutes
    0:31
  18. 18.
    The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, op. 34 “Variations and Fugue on a theme of Henry Purcell”: Variation B - The Oboes
    0:58
  19. 19.
    The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, op. 34 “Variations and Fugue on a theme of Henry Purcell”: Variation C - The Clarinets
    0:38
  20. 20.
    The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, op. 34 “Variations and Fugue on a theme of Henry Purcell”: Variation D - The Bassoons
    0:54
  21. 21.
    The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, op. 34 “Variations and Fugue on a theme of Henry Purcell”: Variation E - The Violins
    0:38
  22. 22.
    The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, op. 34 “Variations and Fugue on a theme of Henry Purcell”: Variation F - The Violas
    0:53
  23. 23.
    The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, op. 34 “Variations and Fugue on a theme of Henry Purcell”: Variation G - The Cellos
    1:11
  24. 24.
    The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, op. 34 “Variations and Fugue on a theme of Henry Purcell”: Variation H - The Double Bass
    1:02
  25. 25.
    The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, op. 34 “Variations and Fugue on a theme of Henry Purcell”: Variation I - The Harp
    0:48
  26. 26.
    The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, op. 34 “Variations and Fugue on a theme of Henry Purcell”: Variation J - The Horns
    0:47
  27. 27.
    The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, op. 34 “Variations and Fugue on a theme of Henry Purcell”: Variation K - The Trumpets
    0:31
  28. 28.
    The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, op. 34 “Variations and Fugue on a theme of Henry Purcell”: Variation L - The Trombones and Bass Tuba
    0:59
  29. 29.
    The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, op. 34 “Variations and Fugue on a theme of Henry Purcell”: Variation M - The Percussion
    1:54
  30. 30.
    The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, op. 34 “Variations and Fugue on a theme of Henry Purcell”: Fugue - Allegro molto
    2:44

Credits