The Hebrides (Fingal's cave) Flashcards
Who is ‘Fingal’s Cave’ by?
Felix Mendellsohn.
When was ‘Fingal’s Cave’ written?
1930 (revised 1932)
What kind of programme music is ‘Fingal’s Cave’?
Symphonic poem
How is ‘Fingal’s Cave’ structured?
loose sonata form with an exposition introducing the two main ideas, a development toying with them and a recapitulation and coda to end.
How is the first idea of ‘Fingal’s Cave’ introduced?
It is introduced by the low strings. It is then played again in different keys by other instruments.
How is the second idea of ‘Fingal’s Cave’ introduced?
It is played first by the cellos and accompanied by violin repetition creating a peaceful sea setting.
How is the sea presented in ‘Fingal’s Cave’?
Crescendos an diminuendos on brass chords represent the swelling of the sea.
What represents seagulls in ‘Fingal’s Cave’?
Punctuated brass and woodwind chords.
In the development of ‘Fingal’s Cave’ what is the texture of the second idea?
Thin and homophonic. but it then develops becoming thicker with string ostinatos
In ‘Fingal’s Cave’ how are dynamics and tonality used to represent the Hebrides?
Frequent modulation and dynamic changes show unpredictable nature of the weather there.
What dynamic change occurs at the end of the development of ‘Fingal’s Cave’?
There is a huge crescendo to show a storm and lots of contrapuntal melodies and modulations to make the storm seem fierce.
How do the violins create a peaceful sea setting in ‘Fingal’s Cave’?
They repeat two notes of a chord in a semiquaver rhythm in multiple places throughout.
How does tempo show the weather in ‘Fingal’s Cave’?
Tempo changes suddenly at time to show weather is unpredictable.
How does the recapitulation continue on from the development of ‘Fingal’s Cave’?
It dies down quickly and the second idea is played beofre it speeds up and crescendos again with fast, scalic ostinatos from violins.
How is the first idea brought into the recapitulation of ‘Fingal’s Cave’?
It is passed between woodwind and brass.
