The Hebrides (overture) The Hebrides (overture) Felix Mendelssohn's concert overture The Hebrides (; ) was composed in 1830, revised in 1832, and published the next year as his Op. 26. Some consider it an early tone poem. It was inspired by one of Mendelssohn's trips to the British Isles, specifically an 1829 excursion to the Scottish island of Staffa, with its basalt sea cave known as Fingal's Cave. It is not known whether Mendelssohn set foot on the island, the cave being best visible from the water, but the composer reported that he immediately jotted down the opening theme for his composition. He
Hebrides "Collins Encyclopedia of Scotland" describes the Inner Hebrides as lying "east of the Minch", which would include any and all offshore islands. There are various islands that lie in the sea lochs such as and that might not ordinarily be described as "Hebridean", but no formal definitions exist. In the past, the Outer Hebrides were often referred to as the "Long Isle" (). Today, they are also known as the "Western Isles", although this phrase can also be used to refer to the Hebrides in general. The Hebrides have a cool temperate climate that is remarkably mild and steady for