farmdoc's blog post number 301

Near the end of Sweetheart Vivienne’s and my 1998 odyssey, we went island hopping in the Outer Hebrides. We rode our tandem bicycle across the islands – Barra, South Uist, North Uist, Harris and Lewis – and rode ferries to, between and from them. We debated whether to ferry across to the Inner Hebridean island of Staffa to visit Fingal’s Cave. The nay vote won. The concert overture The Hebrides (Fingal's Cave) written by Felix Mendelssohn in 1830, was inspired by his visit to the cave on Staffa during his Grand Tour of Europe. He scribbled the overture’s opening on the spot, and included it in a letter he wrote home that evening. It’s a wonderfully evocative musical piece. I’m glad we didn’t visit Staffa and the cave, because my mental picture of it remains largely painted by Mendelssohn’s marvellous music. Mendelssohn was a child prodigy: his first public performance was at age 9, and between age 12 and 14 he wrote 12 symphonies. Reputable sources consider that only he rivals Mozart as a composing genius. I’m not knowledgeable enough to weigh into that debate. But whether or not Mendelssohn’s number two, he’s right up there with the best. He was born on 3 February 1809 – almost exactly 200 years ago. Which is a fine reason to pause a moment, remember him and acknowledge his genius and contribution.