WHS inspiring "Classical Music"
WHS which can be shown to have inspired a composer in the creation of an item of "Classical" music. The link to the inscribed area must be demonstrated in documented history of a visit or particular study of the location by the composer. Items merely titled e.g "London" of "Prague" Symphony do not count without evidence of such inspirational provenance (many such pieces relate to where the piece was first composed rather than to the "inspiration"). Similarly mere representations of historical events do not count (There is another connection for WHS which were the location for an Opera). Items referring specifically to a significant location within a wider WHS are allowed. provided they meet the "inspired by" criteria. An objective is to enable Community members to make their own assessment as to whether the music "captures" the WHS which inspired it!
Connected Sites
| Site | Rationale | Link |
| Edinburgh | Symphony No 3 ("Scottish") by Felix Mendelssohn (1829). Mendelssohn's letters clearly state that the inspiration for the opening came from his visit to Holyrood Palace - "In the twilight today we went to the [Holyrood] Palace where Queen Mary [Stuart] lived and loved. There is a little room to be seen there with a spiral staircase at its door. . . . The chapel beside it has now lost its roof. It is overgrown with grass and ivy, and at the broken altar, Mary was crowned Queen of Scotland. Everything is ruined, decayed, and open to the sky. I believe I have found there the beginning of my Scotch Symphony." | |
| Grand Canyon | "Grand Canyon Suite" by Ferde Grofé, (1929 to 1931). "In writing "Grand Canyon Suite" I drew from notes I had made during my constant visits to the rim of the mighty work of nature. I had watched the Canyon in all seasons, in all its moods. And my findings were on paper, notes in hieroglyphics that were later transcribed into musical notes" | |
| Rome | Fountains of Rome by Ottorino Respighi. (1916). The "Tone Poem" contains 4 movements covering 4 named fountains. 3 of which are within the inscribed area of Rome (Triton, Trevi & Medici Gardens) | |
| Venice and its Lagoon | "La Lugubre Gondola" by Franz Liszt (1882). "Liszt’s idea for the work came from seeing the funeral processions on Venice’s Grand Canal from his window at the Palazzo Vendramin, where he stayed as Richard Wagner’s guest during the winter of 1882/83". &: "Death in Venice" by Benjamin Britten "Britten.........found that Venice was one of the few places outside Suffolk where he could compose, and which actively fuelled his creativity. In 1971, the idea was brewing in his mind, he took a holiday in Venice and opened his ears to the sounds the city made. The bells of St Mark’s find their way into the score, as do the cries of the gondoliers. Unusually, he kept a sketchbook of melodies and ideas dating from this trip, and which clearly feeds much of the significant material of the opera." (Work of the Week 40. Death in Venice | Britten Pears Arts) | |
| Via Appia | The Pines of Rome by Ottorino Respighi (1924. One of the 4 movements is titled "I pini della via Appia | |
| Villa d'Este | "Les jeux d'eaux à la Villa d'Este" by Franz Liszt. Also in the same suite "Aux cyprès de la Villa d'Este I & 2" |
Suggestions?
Do you know of another WHS we could connect to WHS inspiring "Classical Music"?
A connection should:
- Not be "self evident"
- Link at least 3 different sites
- Not duplicate or merely subdivide the "Category" assignment already identified on this site.
- Add some knowledge or insight (whether significant or trivial!) about WHS for the users of this site
- Be explained, with reference to a source