Hebrides Overture (Fingal's Cave') Op. 26

[quizman1967]

Magnificent, stirring music, and beautiful photography.

Thank you for uploading this, @thelightisahead.

[Sylderon]

The reminds me of when it was used as background music in a Monty Python sketch...then it turned out to be a phonograph on the seashore that kept skipping.

[sgtredbluered]

I wish somebody that goes there would do a recording of the actual sounds made by the waves at the location so we can compare the inspiration to the final product.

[WonkyTonkBotty]

0:30 - I've been there! That's Port of Ness isn't it?

[thelightisahead]

@WonkyTonkBotty

Really can't remember to be honest!

[windstorm1000]

They're masterpieces: musical composition--and cave! This overture has probably been the best visitor calling card for a landscape anywhere. People want to experience perhaps a bit what Mendelssohn went through--

[thelightisahead]

@windstorm1000

Yes, I was a bit disappointed when I went for the first time, just last summer, the sea was as flat as anything! Was a beautiful day though, virtually cloudless

[kshin882002]

and of coruse theres one jackass out there who has to ruin it by disliking the song

[dirtyratmiller]

Written 1830, revised and then premiered in 1832 in London...Mendelssohn died in Leipzig in 1847 from a series of strokes; he was only 38 years old.

[Jeansschwimmer]

Some cynic once called this wonderful description of the journey to Staffa in an open boat "the best musical description of sea-sickness". You feel the waves lifting you up and down and the boat rocks hard when a short, steep wave hits it.

My wife and I did the trip in a motor launch from Iola years ago- we shal never forget.

[thelightisahead]

@Jeansschwimmer

Yes I made the trip myself this summer - the sun was high, the sky almost cloudless, the sea like a mirror. I almost wish it had actually been more stormy as in Mendelssohn's depiction!

[Jeansschwimmer]

@thelightisahead nice to read that. We took off from Iola, it was end of July and some kids were in the water- fully clothed! Maybe for fun or because the water was so cold.

The sky was full of towering white clouds, a stiff breeze was blowing and the boat danced up and down the waves. Our skipper must have been a magician, he steered a course almost parallel to the big waves, and not a single drop of water came over its sides. Nevertheless we did not dare going into the cabin just in case...

[thelightisahead]

I'm off to see Fingal's Cave tomorrow! :D

[cyberk25]

this song is giving me goosebumps

[Psyche777able]

Thank you for posting this. A great gift for such a short time of this man.

[HazelAgnes48]

Well worth going to see. Very interesting boat trip over and the caves themselves were absolutely amazing. Not long back. I would definately recommend a visit.

[BUKO158]

woow, is awesome music

[TheWall2000]

Absolutely one of the best pieces of music ever - some nice pics too.

[bratwurstle]

It's a semi-tone lower than a Berlin recording!

[GabrielKish]

Can you guys remember what it was like to be 21 and then think of writting music like this at that age???? Wow!!! Thank God some people have such talent so the rest of us mere mortals can enjoy it for years to come.

I would love to see that cave once in my life....

[thelightisahead]

I know! And Schubert in his 18th year wrote a symphony, over 140 songs and other stuff besides!! I've got a lot of catching up to do ;) hehe

[snipperbes]

@GabrielKish You really should. I've been there this summer and it's Magnificent with a capital M.

[flutenerd]

The conductor is fabulous and has such a great touch with tempo - a lot of conductors like to really slow down wherever the orchestration gets thin, not realizing that it thins the piece out TOO much, and that Mendelssohn has written it in such a way that it needs very little tampering on the part of the conductor. (Or at least that's my opinion.) This conductor seems to really respect Mendelssohn's work and just allow the piece to flow in its natural, organic form. Brava!

[vladotepesh]

In the last edition of National Geographic magazine there is an article about Hebrides, if anyone is interested ...

[salm37]

Got it! Great pics in the mag....that's why I'm looking for travel about it on youtube...

[j0andc0]

Its a wonderful piece of music. Thanks for this.

[sliphorn88h]

Wow! Great playing from Long Beach! Thanks for posting this.

[dudychicken]

hey there dude, are u British or American ??? xoxo

[thelightisahead]

British! Well, English technically ;)  hehe

[branquela82]

My orchestra will be playing this piece in September, and I am so excited!

[HylianTwilight]

We've played it for contests. It's a rather enjoyable piece, one I enjoyed greatly. Our teacher was to the point of tearing his hair out with us...But yet, we pulled it off quite well for a high school orchestra.

I wish you luck. :3

[H0ndje]

can anyone tell me where exactly the pictures where taken, used in the video? I'm thinking about going to the hebrides and just stumbled upon this, making me very curious

[thelightisahead]

I'm afraid I don't know, I found the pictures merely by using Google Image Search :S

[rachybaby13]

@H0ndje if your wanting to go to Staffa, you can get a days boat trip from Oban on the main land and you also go to Iona.

[Inquisitor53]

@H0ndje A few around Staffa, but the standing stones were definitely from Calanish on the west coast of the Isle of Lewis.

[bigalex6393]

yea our high school orchestra played this...butchered it, our teacher wasnt as devoted as we were. it sucked. I loved it though, personally i was able to play it. =]

[elmmegan]

who performed this recording?

[thelightisahead]

Hi, it was JoAnn Falletta and the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra

[ladynightwatchman]

I love this.

[thelightisahead]

Great isn't it :) amazing he wrote it when so young! (though ofc it was revised later). You have a very interesting channel, I like it! I see you like Greensleeves, always good to know a fellow worshipper of that timeless melody XD actually I wrote 16 variations on it because it's so great :p

[ladynightwatchman]

thank you!! yes, I love Greensleeves.

16 varations!!! Wow, that's incredible :D

[thelightisahead]

Hehe, ah it's nothing that special. I just wish I knew the first thing about harmony, counterpoint etc. so I could compose properly! Do you ever write music?

[ladynightwatchman]

goodness no, I could never do that!!! admire you for doing it though, it's great :D

[thelightisahead]

Hehe, thanks, well, it keeps me busy!

[BeBopElmo]

Thank you for the track and the lovely accompanying photos. I hope you will include tne name of the performers in future descriiptions of your postings. The Long Beach Symphony is a professional orchestra. But this is the kind of piece also played by what are called "community orchestras" in the USA. That is an orchestra made up of players of all levels and ages who reharse and perform for firends, family, and the local community. It's a wonderful place to learn how to play in an ensemble.

[HylianTwilight]

I love this song, we're playing the original version of it in Orchestra class. It IS rather hard...Obviously, with all the runs. But if done with the right dynamics and right notes, we can sure sound like a professional orchestra. (: I hope so!!!!

And wonderful images, I would like to see Fingal's Cave whenever I can travel.

[ThaSchwab]

You should post a video .. good luck trying to get a high school orchestra to sound completely like a professional orchestra. :P

[ANTONIOJOSEGONZALEZG]

genial

[Pianist1991]

I love this piece!

[daisychain2409]

This piece is amazing! I'm playing a modified version on piano, but the full orchestral piece is fabulous :)!

[thelightisahead]

Yes, so descriptive! I love the rushing cellos near the start being like the waves going up and down :)

[nichtraucherbus]

This conductor must have had a date after the concert, so was speeding up some parts ;-). The "uptempo-version" gives a new view of this piece. more water, less stone...

[da2ndlevyashin]

who is this recording done by?

[thelightisahead]

Hey, it's by JoAnn Falletta and the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, from a disc entitled 'Impressions of the Sea'. Quite an aptly named orchestra!

[thelightisahead]

JoAnn Falletta and the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra

[windstorm1000]

@thelightisahead I like Ms. FAlletta---she broke down the old boys composers club. Also was conductor for my old home town, Milwaukee Sym. Orchestra