The Sea received its first performance at a Prom Concert in London on 24 September 1912, with the New Queen's Hall Orchestra conducted by Sir Henry Wood.
Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, English Horn, 2 Clarinets in A and B♭, Bass Clarinet in A and B♭, 2 Bassoons, Contrabassoon, 4 Horns in F, 3 Trumpets in A and B♭, 3 Trombones, Tuba, Timpani, Percussion (Triangle, Snare Drum, Cymbals, Bass Drum), Harp, Strings.
[6] The first movement, Seascape, influenced Arnold Bax in his writing of the symphonic poem Tintagel.
[7] He heard it, conducted by the composer, at the Norfolk and Norwich Festival on 30 October 1924,[8] which he had attended on the encouragement of his viola teacher Audrey Alston.
One of Britten's first significant works was a tribute to his teacher, Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge (1937).