(From Birmingham)
THE BIRMINGHAM STUDIO AUGMENTED ORCHESTRA
(Leader, FRANK CANTELL)
Conducted by JOSEPH LEWIS

Two of Mendelssohn's orchestral works the 'Fingal's Cave Overture and the so-called ' Scots' Symphony, owed their inspiration to tho visit which he paid to Scotland in 1829. The melody which forms the chief tune of the Overture 'Fingal's Cave,' sometimes called 'The Hebrides,' was written down immediately after a visit to Staffa and Iona, and sent home in one of his delightful letters, describing the visit with all his own buoyant enthusiasm.
The Overture begins with lower strings and bassoons, presenting a theme, which depicts the long rolling Atlantic breakers, and later it is the same instruments which give us the second chief tune. The Overture is built up on these singly and together ; a very beautiful instance of their use in combination is heard near the end, where flute and horns join to play them very softly.
'OMBRA MAi Fu' is the beautiful air for alto voice which is known the wide world over as 'Handel's Largo.' Accepted, in this country, where we like to draw a hard and fast distinction between Sunday and week-day music, as suitable for playing or singing on the most solemn occasions, it comes from a secular work and the words have nothing to do with any religious subject. It is a stout witness on behalf of the plea that any good music which is not frivolous in its intention is also sacred music