British Library acquires original manuscript of Benjamin Britten’s 'Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra'

The British Library has acquired the draft score of 'The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra', one of the most famous compositions of Benjamin Britten (1913-1976). Completed on New Year's Eve 1945, this original manuscript charts the composer's earliest ideas for what has become one of the most frequently performed pieces by any British composer. Britten subsequently wrote out a full orchestral score, after which no further use was made of the draft, which he gave to a friend. It remained completely unknown until last year