The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, op.34 - written by Eric Cozier, adapted by Miguel Esteban: Introduction "Benjamin Britten wrote this piece"

Benjamin Britten wrote this piece
To introduce you to the instruments of the orchestra
There are four teams of players
The strings, the woodwinds, the brass and the percussion

Each team uses instruments which make roughly the same sound
In roughly the same way
The strings are played with a bow or are plucked by the fingers
The woodwinds are played by blowing into them, the brass also
The percussion are played by banging on them

First, we'll hear a theme originally composed by Henry Purcell
Which will be played by the whole orchestra
And then by each of the four teams of instruments

First, the woodwinds, which are made mostly out of wood
Which makes perfect sense
They come to life when breath is blown into them

Second, the brass, which come in all shapes and sizes
And are made of metal

Third, the strings, which are all made of fine wood and
Depending on their size are played either resting under the chin
Between the legs or standing up
Now, their cousin the harp is always plucked

And finally, the percussion, which includes drums, gongs
Tambourines and just about anything else you can hit
Now, after you've heard this fourth team
The whole orchestra will play the melody once again