Wednesday, May 10, 2023

DCXVI. MENDELSSOHN, Felix: Hebrides Overture, Op. 26

DCXVI. MENDELSSOHN, Felix (1809-1847)

Hebrides Overture, Op. 26 (1830)
Frankfurt Radio Symphony
Andrés Orozco-Estrada, cond.
(11:26)


"I would gladly give all I have written, to have composed something like the Hebrides Overture." -- Johannes Brahms

Done and done. [sorry, Brahms fans ...]

After traveling to England, Mendelssohn made a visit to Scotland, where he composed his Third Symphony ("Scottish").

He wrote to his sister Fanny about the landscape, enclosing this drawing:


A stand-alone piece -- and not an overture to any other work -- this is surely an example of one of the earliest "tone poems," which were to become such a popular form of composition later in the century.

Without any specific programme, the music depicts the wild Scottish landscape.

**

Bassoon and violas rise ascend with the motif that will define this piece:






















Uniquely Mendelssohnian:



No comments:

Post a Comment

INDEX to 1000 POSTS CLASSICAL BLOG A-M

N-Z ABRAHAMSEN, Hans / 10 Pieces for Orchestra / DCCCXCV ADAMS, John / Century Rolls / XXXVII ADAMS, John / Harmonielehre / CXXI ADAMS, John...