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

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

Felix Mendelssohn

Mendelssohn wrote the magnificent Hebrides Overture when he was only 21 (though revisions were made a few years later). It was upon a visit to Scotland (the Romantic view of which was much in vogue at the time) and more specifically, the Hebridean Islands off the Scottish west coast, that the first mysterious theme came to his head, which he quickly wrote down. He was also inspired by a visit to Fingal's Cave, a natural structure of pillars of basalt, hence the subtitle for the composition.

The waters around the Hebrides are famously rough and stormy, and navigation can be difficult even today, let alone in Mendelssohn's time. Throughout the overture, Mendelssohn evokes the sense of the great, mysterious power surrounding the islands, as well as the tumbling ocean (bass activity at around 00:19 - 00:35, for example) and lonely cries of seabirds (3:54?)

The Hebrides Overture is not meant to be a narrative - it is more of a scene/mood setter. Nevertheless, it is perhaps the earliest example of what could be described as a tone poem, and is a fascinating, riveting work written with great maturity by a man barely out of his teens.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Felix
• Mendelssohn
• Hebrides
• Overture
• 26
• fingal's
• cave

[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

[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!

[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....

[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. =]

[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

[snipperbes]

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

[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.

[kshin882002]

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