Crystallographic orientations of thin films and bulk, melt-textured YBa(2)Cu(3)O(x) high-T(c) superconductors with embedded Y(2)Ba(4)CuMO(x) (M = Nb, Zr, Ag) nanoparticles are studied by electron backscatter diffraction. The Y(2)BaCuO(5) particles exhibit no preferred orientation but have a strong negative influence on the matrix orientation. In contrast, the nanoparticles are not disturbing the texture of the YBCO matrix. For the bulk samples, depending on the preparation route, a different particle orientation with respect to the matrix is obtained. Untextured M-2411 nanoparticles are formed by solid state reaction during the melt process by adding oxides (Nb(2)O(5) or Y(2)O(3)) to the precursor powder. Pre-formed Y(2)Ba(4)CuMO(x) particles added to the precursor in the form of pre-reacted nanopowder, exhibit a dominant single orientation related to the surrounding YBCO matrix. In the case of thin films prepared using laser ablation with a bulk YBCO sample with embedded nanoparticles as a target, the nanoparticles are transferred into the thin film, but the transferred M-2411 particles are found to be randomly oriented. Nevertheless, these films exhibit increased flux pinning properties. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.