The Hebrides (overture)

The Hebrides or Fingal's Cave The ( Fingal 's Cave ), Op 26 (MWV P 7) is a concert overture by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy.

Mendelssohn wrote this work in 1829., He received the suggestion to on a trip to England and Scotland, on August 7, 1829 when he visited Fingal's Cave on the Scottish island of Staffa, on this occasion with the friends of his Poet Karl Klingemann. Since it the first version, entitled The Lonely Island was, rather to " counterpoint " as in " Tran and seagulls " remembered, he revised the work in 1831 ( after a performance in London) and a second time in November 1833. The premiere the revised version took place under the baton of the composer in Berlin on 10 January 1833.

The work was a success, especially with the British, and even prone to anti-Semitic tendencies composer Richard Wagner praised the Jewish family originating from Mendelssohn as " first-class landscape painter ".

About the Music

The work is mainly in B minor and ends with a conclusion in this minor key, not with a Verdurung to B major. The main theme that represents the swell is presented by Viola, Cello and Bassoon and varies over the course of the overture. It is supported by the resembling thunder timpani.

The playing time of the overture is about 10 minutes.

Mendelssohn wrote the following orchestra before: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons - 2 horns, 2 trumpets - Timpani - String Orchestra.