The Nocturnes

Abstract

Although the eighteenth-century was quite productive of instru¬mental and vocal Nachtmusiken and Notturni, these had little in common with the gentle piano nocturnes of John Field, still less with the more mysterious ones of Chopin, who borrowed the title from him. Rather, the Irish composer's innovation lay in crystalli¬sing a fresh vein of musical expression. And Chopin's achievement in this genre was greatly to extend its imaginative and technical content. Indeed, his first essay in the form, hinting at both its dramatic and lyrical scope, makes clear the nocturne's attraction for a young creator just beginning to sense his powers. Set in E minor, it was composed during [827, when Chopin was 17 but published post¬humously in 1855 misleadingly catalogued as Op. 72. Next came the C sharp minor piece often known as the "Lento con gran espressione" rather than as a nocturne. Though written in 1830, this shows little compositional advance, and Chopi n in tact never settled its definitive form, publication coming only in 1875. Of interest, however, are self-quotations from his song "Zyczenie" and the Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor. Still longer delayed in appearance was the C minor Nocturne, composed in 1837, perhaps initially intended for the Op. 32 group, but printed only in 1938. Unhelpfully known as No. 21, it further confirms Chopin's inherent affinity for this idiom.