Tomorrow a referendum in Scotland will determine whether the ancient and mysterious land will remain a part of the United Kingdom or become an independent country. The landscapes and legends of Scotland have served as an inspiration for Felix Mendelssohns Scottish Symphony. After visiting the ruined abby at Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh, Mendelssohn wrote: In the evening twilight we went today to the palace where Queen Mary lived and loved; a little room is shown there with a winding staircase leading up to the door… The chapel close to it is now roofless, grass and ivy grow there, and at that broken altar Mary was crowned Queen of Scotland. Everything round is broken and mouldering and the bright sky shines in. I believe I today found in that old chapel the beginning of my ‘Scottish’ Symphony. Here is the fabulous performance of the Scottish Symphony by Chamber Orchestra of Europe under the baton of Nikolaus Harnoncourt.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Sep 2014 23:23:06 +0000
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