 In the course of ten visits to Britain during his life , totalling about 20 months , Mendelssohn won a strong following , sufficient for him to make a deep impression on British musical life . He composed and performed , and he edited for British publishers the first critical editions of oratorios of Handel and of the organ music of J. S. Bach . Scotland inspired two of his most famous works : the overture The Hebrides ( also known as Fingal 's Cave ) ; and the Scottish Symphony ( Symphony No. 3 ) . 
