A quintessential Romantic composer, Robert Schumann's initial reaction to Chopin’s music was "Hats off, gentlemen, a genius." Chopin composed four of his greatest creations under the name scherzo, a word that means “joke.” However, the scherzi are epics among Chopin’s works, each of an unmatched instrumental brilliance. Schumann compared it to a poem by Byron, “so overflowing with tenderness, boldness, love, and contempt.” For Chopin, the soft sotto voce opening was a question, and the second louder phrase – the answer. The following gorgeous lyrical melody is repeated three times throughout the piece, the last time bringing us to the coda in a magnificent key change. The middle section is filled with longing.Victor Goldberg
Classical Music | Piano Music
Frédéric Chopin
Scherzo No. 2 in b-flat minor, Op. 31 Play
Recorded on 11/23/2011, uploaded on 04/13/2012
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
A quintessential Romantic composer, Robert Schumann's initial reaction to Chopin’s music was "Hats off, gentlemen, a genius." Chopin composed four of his greatest creations under the name scherzo, a word that means “joke.” However, the scherzi are epics among Chopin’s works, each of an unmatched instrumental brilliance. Schumann compared it to a poem by Byron, “so overflowing with tenderness, boldness, love, and contempt.” For Chopin, the soft sotto voce opening was a question, and the second louder phrase – the answer. The following gorgeous lyrical melody is repeated three times throughout the piece, the last time bringing us to the coda in a magnificent key change. The middle section is filled with longing. Victor Goldberg
More music by Frédéric Chopin
Ballade No. 4 in f minor, Op. 52
Etude Op. 10, No. 4 in c-sharp minor
Valse Op. 69 No. 2, in b minor
Ballade No. 1 in g minor, Op. 23
Etude Op 25 nos. 3, 4 and 5
Fantasy in F minor Op.49
Ballade No.3 in A flat major Op.47
Valse Op. 64, No. 2 in c-sharp minor
Polonaise Brillante in C major Op.3 for Cello and Piano
Ballade No. 4 in f minor, Op. 52
Performances by same musician(s)
Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, Op. 24
Sonata No. 47 in B minor Hob. XVI: 32
Sonata No. 5 in F-sharp Major, Op. 53
Les collines d’Anacapri, from Preludes, Books I
June: Barcarolle from The Seasons, Op. 37
Moment Musicaux Op. 16, No. 4
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