Although he made a short preliminary sketch in August 1829, Mendelssohn composed his Scottish Symphony in earnest from late 1840 to January 20, 1842. He dedicated the score to “H.M. Queen Victoria of Great Britain and Ireland”
WORLD PREMIERES: March 3, 1842. The composer conducted the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. After slight revision, the work was re-introduced in what would be its final form on March 17, under the direction of Karl Bach
US PREMIERE: November 22, 1845. George Loder led the New York Philharmonic
INSTRUMENTATION: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, timpani, and strings
Here is the late Kurt Mazur conducting this beautiful music:
