Nocturnes (Chopin)

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Cover page of Chopin's Nocturnes Op. 48

Frédéric Chopin wrote 21 nocturnes for solo piano between 1827 and 1846. They are generally considered among the finest short solo works for the instrument and hold an important place in contemporary concert repertoire.[1] Although Chopin did not invent the nocturne, he popularized and expanded on it, building on the form developed by Irish composer John Field.[2][3]

Chopin's nocturnes numbered 1 to 18 were published during his lifetime, in twos or threes, in the order of composition. However, numbers 19 and 20 were actually written first, prior to Chopin's departure from Poland, but published posthumously. Number 21 was not originally entitled "nocturne" at all,[4] but since its publication in 1938 as such, it is generally included with publications and recordings of the set.

Influences

By the time of Chopin's birth in 1810, John Field was already an accomplished composer. Eventually, the young Chopin became a great admirer of Field, taking some influence from the Irish composer's playing and composing technique.[5] Chopin had composed five of his nocturnes before meeting Field for the first time.[6]

In his youth, Chopin was often told that he sounded like Field, who in turn was later described as sounding "Chopinesque".[7] The composer Friedrich Kalkbrenner, one of Chopin's early influences, once inquired as to whether Chopin was a student of Field.[8] While Chopin held Field in high respect and considered him one of his primary influences, Field had a rather negative view of Chopin's work. Upon meeting Chopin and hearing his nocturnes in 1832, Field is said to have described the composer as a "sickroom talent".[8] Nonetheless, Chopin still admired Field and his work and continued to take inspiration throughout his life.

Chopin's nocturnes carry many similarities with those of Field while at the same time retaining a distinct, unique sound of their own. One aspect of the nocturne that Chopin continued from Field is the use of a song-like melody in the right hand. This is one of the most if not the most important features to the nocturne as a whole. The use of the melody as vocals bestowed a greater emotional depth to the piece, drawing the listener in to a greater extent.[5] Along with the right-hand melody, Chopin continued the use of another nocturne "necessity", that of playing broken chords on the left hand to act as the rhythm under his right-handed "vocal" melody. Another technique used by Field and continued by Chopin was the more extensive use of the pedal. By using the pedal more, the music gains more emotional expression through sustained notes, giving the piece an aura of drama.[9] With these main attributes of the "Field nocturne" Chopin was inspired, and expanded upon them to develop the "Chopin nocturne".

One of the greatest innovations made by Chopin to the nocturne was his use of a more freely flowing rhythm, a technique based on the classical music style. Also, Chopin further developed the structure of the nocturne, taking inspiration from the Italian and French opera arias, as well as the sonata form. Composer Franz Liszt even insisted that Chopin's nocturnes were influenced by Vincenzo Bellini's bel canto arias,[10] a statement affirmed and echoed by many in the music world. A further innovation of Chopin's was his use of counterpoint to create tension in the nocturnes, a method that even further expanded the dramatic tone and feel of the piece itself.[5] It was mainly through these themes of operatic influence, freer rhythms, and an expansion into more complex structures and melodic playing that Chopin made his mark on the nocturne.[9] Many think of the "Chopin nocturne" as a mix between the form and structure of Field and the sound of Mozart, displaying a classic/romantic-influenced theme within the music.[5]

Influence

When first published, Chopin's nocturnes were met with mixed reactions from critics. However, through time, many who had initially been displeased with the nocturnes found themselves retracting previous criticisms, holding the compositions in high regard.[11]

While the popularity of individual nocturnes has varied considerably since Chopin's death, they have retained a significant position in piano repertoire, with the Op. 9 No. 2 in E♭ major and the Op. 27 No. 2 in D♭ major perhaps the most enduringly popular.

Various composers from both Chopin's lifetime and later have expressed their influences from his work with nocturnes. Such artists as Johannes Brahms and Richard Wagner display similar melodic techniques and styles in their music to those of Chopin. Other composers such as Mendelssohn, Schumann, and Liszt described the genius that lay within Chopin's nocturnes.[12] It is clear that these piano compositions made a noticeable and lasting impact on music and composition during the romantic period. The most important later composer of nocturnes was Gabriel Fauré, who greatly admired Chopin and composed thirteen works in this genre. Other later composers who have written solo piano nocturnes include Georges Bizet, Erik Satie, Alexander Scriabin, Francis Poulenc, Samuel Barber, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Lowell Liebermann.

List of nocturnes

No. Key Opus Pub. Comp. Incipit Sound
1 B♭ minor Op. 9 No. 1 1832 1830–1832 Chopin.f op009.01.svg File:Frédéric Chopin - Nocturne in B-flat minor, Op. 9, No. 1.oggFlorence Robineau
2 E♭ major Op. 9 No. 2 1832 1830–1832 Chopin nocturne op9 2a theme.png File:Frederic Chopin - Nocturne Eb major Opus 9, number 2.oggMartha Goldstein
3 B major Op. 9 No. 3 1832 1830–1832 Chopin nocturne op9 3a theme.png File:Fryderyk Chopin - Nocturne op. 9 n.3 H-dur - Patrizia Prati.oggPatrizia Prati
4 F major Op. 15 No. 1 1833 1830–1832 Chopin nocturne op15 1a theme.png File:Chopin - Nocturne Op. 15 no. 1 in F major.ogg
5 F♯ major Op. 15 No. 2 1833 1830–1832 Chopin nocturne op15 2a theme.png File:Chopin - Nocturne Op. 15 no. 2 in F sharp major.ogg
6 G minor Op. 15 No. 3 1833 1833 Chopin nocturne op15 3a theme.png File:Chopin Nocturne in G minor, Op 15 no 3 Olga Gurevich.ogg Olga Gurevich
7 C♯ minor Op. 27 No. 1 1837 1836 Chopin nocturne op27 1a theme.png File:Chopin Nocturne Op.27 No.1.oga
8 D♭ major Op. 27 No. 2 1837 1836 Chopin nocturne op27 2a theme.png File:Nocturne in D-flat Major, Op. 27, No. 2 xo.ogg
9 B major Op. 32 No. 1 1837 1837 Chopin nocturne op32 a1.png File:Fryderyk Chopin - Nocturne op. 32 n.1 H-dur - Patrizia Prati.ogg
10 A♭ major Op. 32 No. 2 1837 1837 Chopin nocturne op32 2a theme.png File:Fryderyk Chopin - Nocturne op. 32 n.2 As-dur - Patrizia Prati.ogg
11 G minor Op. 37 No. 1 1840 1838 Chopin nocturne op37 1a.png File:Chopin - Nocturne in G minor - Mogadishu Jan, 25 2005.ogg
12 G major Op. 37 No. 2 1840 1839 Chopin nocturne op37 2a.png File:Chopin Nocturne Op 37 no 2 in G major Olga Gurevich.ogg Olga Gurevich
13 C minor Op. 48 No. 1 1841 1841 Chopin nocturne op48 1a.png File:Chopin Nocturne in C minor Op. 48 no. 1 Luke Faulkner.ogg Luke Faulkner
14 F♯ minor Op. 48 No. 2 1841 1841 Chopin nocturne op48 2a.png File:Chopin Nocturne in F sharp minor Op 48 no 2 Luke Faulkner.ogg Luke Faulkner
15 F minor Op. 55 No. 1 1844 1842–1844 Chopin nocturne op55 1a.png File:Chopin - Nocturne-op-55-no-1.ogg
16 E♭ major Op. 55 No. 2 1844 1842–1844 Chopin nocturne op55 2a.png File:Frederic Chopin - nocturne no. 2 in e flat major, op. 55.ogg
17 B major Op. 62 No. 1 1846 1846 Chopin nocturne op62 1a.png File:Frederic Chopin - nocturne no. 1 in b major, op. 62.oga
18 E major Op. 62 No. 2 1846 1846 Chopin nocturne op62 2a.png File:Frederic Chopin - nocturne no. 2 in e flat major, op. 62.ogg
19 E minor Op. 72 No. 1 1855 1827–29 Chopin nocturne op72 1a.png File:Chopin Nocturne in Em, Op. posth. 72.oggPeter Johnston
20 C♯ minor P 1 No. 16 1870 1830 Chopin nocturne 20 theme.png File:Chopin, Nocturne in C-sharp minor, Op. Posth.oggAaron Dunn
21 C minor P 2 No. 8 1938 1837 Chopin nocturne no. 21 theme.png File:Chopin Nocturne 21 in C minor Posthumous Diana Hughes.ogg Diana Hughes

Other posthumous nocturnes

References

  1. ^ Bielecki, Artur. "Fryderyk Chopin – Information Centre – Nocturnes". Narodowy Instytut Fryderyka Chopina. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
  2. ^ Bielecki, Artur. "Nocturnes". Narodowy Instytut Fryderyka Chopina. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  3. ^ Davidoff, Josh (August 22, 2017). "Your Guide to Chopin's Nocturnes". WFMT. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  4. ^ "Frédéric François Chopin". Classical Archives. All Music Guide. Retrieved 2009-06-10.
  5. ^ a b c d J. Samson & K. Michalowski, "Chopin, Fryderyk Franciszek" Grove Music Online
  6. ^ "Episode 91: Field and Fryderyk". Radio Chopin. Benjamin K. Roe & Jennifer Foster. Retrieved 2014-08-14.
  7. ^ Robin Langley, "John Field" Grove Music Online
  8. ^ a b Tad Szulc, Chopin in Paris, 1998. p. 76
  9. ^ a b M. J. E. Brown & K. L. Hamilton, "The Nocturne" Grove Music Online
  10. ^ Tad Szulc, Chopin in Paris, 1998. p. 115
  11. ^ Tad Szulc, Chopin in Paris, 1998. pp. 90–91
  12. ^ Jim Samson, "Chopin," The Oxford Companion to Music
  13. ^ Nocturne Oubliée in C sharp minor at Musopen website

External links

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