Abstract

The reason for the author to study in this dissertation is because that she comes from Peng-Hu islands where are between Taiwan and China. Geographically, the Peng-Hu islands has a lot of caves which are quite similar as the background for Mendelssohn to compose the overture of “Fingal’s Cave”. Another main reason for the author to study is about what she found the lack of Taiwanese research of Mendelssohn works, especially in “Fingal’s cave”. Thus, she might hope that this dissertation may help some in studying Mendelssohn’s works.

This dissertation is going to mainly study the analysis and its performance edition based on the theme overture. The study contains the composing background, biobibliography the temporal background. The analysis includes the overture frame work, motivation and its following application, moreover, the harmony, the tonality, the arrangement and its characteristics.

Performance edition study uses the comparison of “Fingal’s cave” three records recorded before year 2000. Tempo, theme, harmony and the characteristic are the terms for the author to concern and analyze.