Talk:Eccremocarpus

Musical Inspiration

Proposed section

Felix Mendelssohn was inspired by Eccremocarpus scaber to write a Scherzo. Composed for Honora, the youngest daughter of John Taylor, with whom Mendelssohn holidayed in Wales in 1829, it was inspired by the trumpet-shaped flowers of the eccremocarpus which grew in the family's garden. Honora, who listened to Mendelssohn's playing in wide-eyed wonder, plaited the yellow flowers in her hair, and asked of him "Could you not compose music for such lovely trumpets?" "Certainly," replied Mendelssohn, "the fairies might have played on such instruments."

Mendelssohn, who was accomplished at drawing and painting, decorated the margin of the autograph manuscript with a watercolour sketch of a branch of the vine.

A.C. Norman (talk) 21:43, 30 April 2009 (UTC)