Classical Music | Piano Music

Recorded on 01/20/2016, uploaded on 08/30/2016

Musician's or Publisher's Notes

Written in 1941, this piece is mournful, piercingly personal and transcends the traditional notion of nocturne as one of the most dramatic works Chopin wrote. Substantial in its design, this work bears similarity to his ballades by having large contrasting sections which form a strong continuous development. Its texture has elements from the grand Romantic style – chords, octaves, passion. The first section is the closest to the traditional nocturne style, with a bass accompaniment and a melodic line. However, there is nothing ordinary about the penetrating melody which is so organically-conceived that no single note could be successfully omitted or changed. The second section is written in a chorale style, in a strikingly dark C Major key and with soulful harmonies. The pulse of the music gradually becomes agitated, and it transitions into the third and final section which concludes the piece with a powerful declaration of the original theme, supported by throbbing chords.      Daria Rabotkina

Courtesy of International Music Foundation.