Instruments of the Orchestra

Sir Malcolm Sargent presents, and conducts the London Symphony Orchestra, in a performance of Britten's Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra. The music was commissioned from Britten by the Crown Film Unit, specifically for this film. It was made in 1946, and the players were those who had sustained the orchestra through the war years: the younger musicians, men and women, were still in the armed forces and were yet to be demobbed.

[@Mr.SLovesTheSacredHeartofJesus]

Of all The Young Person's Guide to the orchestra that I've seen. This, without a doubt, is absolutely the best. His explanation of each section of the orchestra and of the instruments is the best. All the other ones that I've seen. Never fully to do this with any depth. I love these vintage films because they show these musicians as the serious minded people that I think musicians ought to be. There's a certain dignity and respectability in that. That I find irresistible. And this film emphasizes that. I recommend this to anybody, regardless of age. I'm certainly not a young person. And I enjoy this as a refresher course.

[@simontaylor2319]

An absolute Gem, I once met Benjamin Britter, as a child, introduced to me by my late uncle, the composer Peter Haysom Craddy. My favourite piece of Classical? music, presented here by meastro Sir Malcom Sargent (who always wore a buttonhole, I read)

[@angelacooper2661]

I heard this played at senior school in the 1980s (a vinyl record) during music lessons. As I have a musical background and blessed with perfect pitch, the key is D minor (it finishes triumphantly in D major). I can play violin and viola, sing alto in a church choir and remember Richard Baker narrating this work.

[@resetsetmefree478]

As you may be aware this piece is performed quite often by college and university orchestras. Probably because it's called "Young Persons Guide to the Orchestra "😆. Be that as it may, it is NOT an easy piece by any means and is quite the challenge even for professional musicians. And you are certainly blessed indeed Angel 🙏. If only I had perfect pitch....

[@angelacooper2661]

​@@resetsetmefree478Yes, I am aware of that fact. Though I could play the viola theme due to it's slow tempo. I have played quite a few demanding pieces at Orchestra over the years, like Dvorak 8th Symphony in G major. The third movement required the violas to soar high in the treble clef, an octave apart. A professional violist came to help out and we played that in tune with me playing the higher octave! She was very impressed with my playing as the octaves were spot on in tune! High praise indeed.

[@stefanrauch8933]

Together with the legendary 1963 Stokowski performance the best I ever listened! Sir Malolm and the LSO are brilliant!

[@hugoaya4349]

This video deserve millions of views.

[@carlgrapentine]

My junior high band director showed us this film in 1961--hadn't seen it in 60 years!

[@markpedwell1250]

How wonderful pure European culture, we should all weep at the way it's looked down on ....

[@peterheywood7453]

Just the greatest rendition of young persons guide to the orchestra.👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@dmntuba]

So happy to find this film. Years ago I had a cassette tape of Sir Malcolm conducting YPGO that I wore out. Brings back wonderful musical memories of my youth. Thank You!

[@stephenlang3135]

Remembered watching this at secondary school in the 60s.

[@TheIanmcl13]

Thank you Allen; took me back to my primary school teacher Hilda Docker who - like so many in those halcyon dad - knew I was to be a composer. The melody stayed with me ever since ❤️

[@nandoflorestan]

From the first time I heard the Young Person's Guide, I was told it had been made for a film called "Instruments of the Orchestra", but for decades, I never had access to the film -- until now!!! Thank you so much!!!

[@martynjacksonmusic2215]

Great to finally see the full video, I studied with Eddie Walker, who plays piccolo, at the R.C.M. in the 1970's; his father Gordon Walker is the first flute.

[@angelacooper2661]

One of my friends plays first flute in the amateur orchestra we both play in (I am a violist) and the local vicar is also a flautist!

[@s.strickland2834]

Brilliant! Every child - and adult - should watch this.

[@allenharris1661]

Thank you! I quite agree - should be in the National Curriculum for schools!

[@Mackeson3]

Sargent's nickname was "Flash" . When conductor (and renowned wit) Sir Thomas Beecham, on heard that Sargent had been conducting in Tokyo he quipped: "Ah....Flash in Japan!"

[@Twentythousandlps]

Somehow this commission elicited this inspired work, so full of musical humor at its best. And so it has introduced Britten to millions - "a very good place to start."

[@robertyw2842]

What an invaluable upload; much appreciated.

[@catycat28meow]

The side drum is actually an orchestral field drum.

[@musicwavestudio]

Interesting to see how the bow- hold has changed for double basses since then. You don't see that kind of bowhold anymore

[@johnrandolph6121]

Really? I'm not a bass player but they don't look out of the ordinary to me. What is different about them?

[@brandonacevedo8997]

they are using a French bow hold. Its quite common now, but more interesting is that none of them vibrato!?

[@Cornodebassetto]

@@brandonacevedo8997they are definitely using vibrato, only when needed to enhance the tone. Too much kills everything

[@angelacooper2661]

I don't like the Dragonetti style of double bass bowing that is common on the Continent. The palm of the hand facing outwards. The bow is shaped differently at the heel too. Cellists never bow like that!

[@barrypoupard7009]

I think I'd heard that Britten had been commissioned to write the Young Person's Guide for a childrens film about the instruments of the orchestra but this is the first time I've seen the film along including what I assume must be the first ever recording/performance of the music played by a vintage LSO. There are a few things which occur to me watching the film which was made in 1946 only a year after the ending of WW2 and slap, bang in the middle of a grey austere Britain which was still in the grip of strict food and materials rationing. Firstly there appear to be very few young players in the orchestra which seems to comprise mostly aged (and some very aged) players. I wonder if this reflects the fact that many musicians hadn't yet been demobbed from the armed forces or the fact that younger and better musicians of the time were being attracted to the 2 newest and better paying (?) of London's orchestras which were both formed in 1946: the RPO under Beecham and the Philharmonia by producer Waler Legge. As far as the orchestra is concerned I find it interesting to see the flutes section are all playing ebony instruments which have pretty much disappeared from the modern symphony orchestra in favour of metal ones which have a greater dynamic range. The horns sound - and there's no other way of putting this - ropey as hell. All the brass appear to be playing the narrow bore instruments of the time and you can hear that sound especially in the trumpets and trombones - I couldn't help noticing the G Bass trombone complete with handle (!) which is extinct in 2023. The hand tuned timpani are equally obsolete today and sound like tuned planks of wood (sorry).

[@2ndavenuesw481]

1946 recording technology.

[@mariahmunnis6315]

Excellent!

[@loganfruchtman953]

19:17 this part makes me cry

[@angelacooper2661]

Probably because of the triumphant ending in the key of D major!

[@royksk]

Not forgetting Tubby the Tuba and Spark's Magic Piano 🤪

[@lxtus_xoxo]

you just awoke a memory i haven't had in ages with tubby the tuba

[@kaiyronbobb4498]

I dont know

[@nandoflorestan]

Is it just me or should all the horn players be fired?

[@erikdaumann8589]

Blame it to the sound quality of the recording. Remember, it was filmed in 1946...

[@phillipecook3227]

​@@erikdaumann8589The hand tuned timpani sound like planks of wood here.

[@erikdaumann8589]

@@phillipecook3227 that's what I mean.

[@ianmintz12806]

Why are there no women in the orchestra?

[@allenharris1661]

Thanks for your question. The film was made just after WWII had ended. The younger musicians, men and women, were still in the armed forces. I have now added an explanatory note to this effect.

[@ianmintz12806]

@@allenharris1661 ah. I see. Thanks

[@stephenwhitelaw4873]

Harpist and one viola player appear female to me.

[@ianmintz12806]

@@stephenwhitelaw4873 same here.

[@1mremington]

What does it matter to you? You should consider using a question mark when asking a question or otherwise some may consider you ignorant.