Nocturnes Op. 32 (Chopin)
Encyclopedia
The Nocturnes, Op. 32 are a set of two nocturne
s written and published by Frédéric Chopin
in 1837. The nocturnes are dedicated to Madame Camile de Billing and are the only two nocturnes in this opus
.
These nocturnes are not as impressive as their predecessors, the Nocturnes Op. 27. While each piece "exemplifies one of the composer's various approaches to nocturne form," Blair Johnson felt that, in the piece, the "moments of originality and power stick out in a way that they couldn't have, had the entirety of the pieces been sewn of finer silk." James Huneker
also found this set "a little tiresome."
Gustav Barth commented that Chopin's nocturnes are definite signs of "progress" in comparison to John Field
's original nocturnes, though the improvements are "for the most part only in technique." However, David Dubal
feels that the pieces are "more aptly described as ballades in miniature."
The Nocturne in B major is initially marked andante sostenuto
and is in 4/4 meter
. There are several ritardando markings throughout, followed by a tempo markings in the next measure
, such as in measure 7 and 8 and in measure 17 and 18. The piece transitions to adagio in the last two measures, starting in measure 64. The piece is 65 measures long and, unusually, ends in the tonic minor key, B minor
. There has been confusion over a key in the first bar of the last line: Theodor Kullak
and Karl Klindworth
use a G, while Julian Fontana
used an F-sharp.
David Dubal found the nocturne to be "of less importance, though characteristic in design and melodic contour." However, he states the coda "completely shocks the listener out of reverie." According to Berkeley, the ending "defies analysis, but compels acceptance." Jim Samson states that "The interruption of the song by this startling passage of instrumental recitative submits to no formal logic, but rather brings directly into the foreground Chopin's desire to make the music 'speak'." James Huneker found the F-minor section to "[broaden] out to dramatic reaches" though he still viewed the overall piece negatively. The ending was both "dramatic and original" to James Friskin, in comparison to the simplicity of the rest of the piece.
and in 4/4 meter. In measure 25, the meter switches to 12/8. The key changes to F-sharp minor in measure 37 and returns to F minor
and 4/4 in measure 49. The tempo returns to lento in measure 73. The pieces has a total of 74 measures and is in ternary form
.
Though he thought the piece contained a "long, gracious melody with a balletic middle section," Dubal found the nocturne to be "less important than other members of this species" like the Nocturne in B major. Blair Johnson found that "[l]ike the previous nocturne, simplicity of gesture is of the utmost importance throughout the opening section". However, it differs due to the "stormier, more chromatic middle section". The repetition of the beginning has been "infected by the agitated atmosphere of the nocturne's center," and causes "the reprise
some time to recapture the gentleness that is its rightful tone," according to Johnson. Friskin found that "the middle section offers good practice in the maintenance of a melodic line in the outer fingers while playing supporting chords
in the same hand."
The nocturne is among the works of Chopin orchestrated in the ballet Les Sylphides
.
Nocturne
A nocturne is usually a musical composition that is inspired by, or evocative of, the night...
s written and published by Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric François Chopin was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist. He is considered one of the great masters of Romantic music and has been called "the poet of the piano"....
in 1837. The nocturnes are dedicated to Madame Camile de Billing and are the only two nocturnes in this opus
Opus number
An Opus number , pl. opera and opuses, abbreviated, sing. Op. and pl. Opp. refers to a number generally assigned by composers to an individual composition or set of compositions on publication, to help identify their works...
.
These nocturnes are not as impressive as their predecessors, the Nocturnes Op. 27. While each piece "exemplifies one of the composer's various approaches to nocturne form," Blair Johnson felt that, in the piece, the "moments of originality and power stick out in a way that they couldn't have, had the entirety of the pieces been sewn of finer silk." James Huneker
James Huneker
James Gibbons Huneker was an American music writer and critic.Huneker was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He studied piano in Europe under Leopold Doutreleau and audited the Paris piano class of Frédéric Chopin's pupil Georges Mathias. He came to New York City in 1885 and remained there...
also found this set "a little tiresome."
Gustav Barth commented that Chopin's nocturnes are definite signs of "progress" in comparison to John Field
John Field (composer)
John Field was an Irish pianist, composer, and teacher. He was born in Dublin into a musical family, and received his early education there. The Fields soon moved to London, where Field studied under Muzio Clementi...
's original nocturnes, though the improvements are "for the most part only in technique." However, David Dubal
David Dubal
David Dubal is an American pianist, teacher, author, broadcaster and painter.Dubal has taught at the Juilliard School in New York since 1983 and the Manhattan School of Music since 1994. Mr. Dubal is the host of "The Piano Matters" a program of comparative piano performances that can be heard on ...
feels that the pieces are "more aptly described as ballades in miniature."
Nocturne in B major, Op. 32, No. 1
Sostenuto
In music, sostenuto is a term from Italian which means "sustained." It occasionally implies a slowing of tempo, though more often it refers to a very legato style in which the notes are performed in a sustained manner beyond their normal values....
and is in 4/4 meter
Meter (music)
Meter or metre is a term that music has inherited from the rhythmic element of poetry where it means the number of lines in a verse, the number of syllables in each line and the arrangement of those syllables as long or short, accented or unaccented...
. There are several ritardando markings throughout, followed by a tempo markings in the next measure
Bar (music)
In musical notation, a bar is a segment of time defined by a given number of beats of a given duration. Typically, a piece consists of several bars of the same length, and in modern musical notation the number of beats in each bar is specified at the beginning of the score by the top number of a...
, such as in measure 7 and 8 and in measure 17 and 18. The piece transitions to adagio in the last two measures, starting in measure 64. The piece is 65 measures long and, unusually, ends in the tonic minor key, B minor
B minor
B minor is a minor scale based on B, consisting of the pitches B, C, D, E, F, G, and A. The harmonic minor raises the A to A. Its key signature has two sharps .Its relative major is D major, and its parallel major is B major....
. There has been confusion over a key in the first bar of the last line: Theodor Kullak
Theodor Kullak
Theodor Kullak was a German pianist, composer, and teacher.-Background:Kullak was born in Krotoschin in the Grand Duchy of Posen, in Wielkopolska - western part of Poland taken during the second partition of Poland by Kingdom of Prussia. He began his piano studies as a pupil of Albrecht Agthe in...
and Karl Klindworth
Karl Klindworth
Karl Klindworth was a German composer, pianist, conductor, violinist and music publisher.-Biography:Klindworth was born at Hanover in 1830. For a time he conducted a traveling opera troupe, but settled in Hanover as a teacher and composer. From there he went to Weimar, 1852, and studied the piano...
use a G, while Julian Fontana
Julian Fontana
Julian Fontana was a Polish pianist, composer, lawyer, author, translator, and entrepreneur, best remembered as a close friend and musical executor of Frédéric Chopin.-Biography:...
used an F-sharp.
David Dubal found the nocturne to be "of less importance, though characteristic in design and melodic contour." However, he states the coda "completely shocks the listener out of reverie." According to Berkeley, the ending "defies analysis, but compels acceptance." Jim Samson states that "The interruption of the song by this startling passage of instrumental recitative submits to no formal logic, but rather brings directly into the foreground Chopin's desire to make the music 'speak'." James Huneker found the F-minor section to "[broaden] out to dramatic reaches" though he still viewed the overall piece negatively. The ending was both "dramatic and original" to James Friskin, in comparison to the simplicity of the rest of the piece.
Nocturne in A-flat major, Op. 32, No. 2
The Nocturne in A-flat major is initially marked as lentoLento
Lento is a commune in the Haute-Corse department of France on the island of Corsica.It shares the canton of Alto-di-Casaconi with Monte, Volpajola, Campile, Olmo, Prunelli-di-Casacconi, Campitello, Ortiporio, Canavaggia, Bigorno, Scolca, Crocicchia and Penta-Acquatella.-Population:-References:*...
and in 4/4 meter. In measure 25, the meter switches to 12/8. The key changes to F-sharp minor in measure 37 and returns to F minor
F minor
F minor is a minor scale based on F, consisting of the pitches F, G, A, B, C, D, and E. The harmonic minor raises the E to E. Its key signature has four flats ....
and 4/4 in measure 49. The tempo returns to lento in measure 73. The pieces has a total of 74 measures and is in ternary form
Ternary form
Ternary form, sometimes called song form, is a three-part musical form, usually schematicized as A-B-A. The first and third parts are musically identical, or very nearly so, while the second part in some way provides a contrast with them...
.
Though he thought the piece contained a "long, gracious melody with a balletic middle section," Dubal found the nocturne to be "less important than other members of this species" like the Nocturne in B major. Blair Johnson found that "[l]ike the previous nocturne, simplicity of gesture is of the utmost importance throughout the opening section". However, it differs due to the "stormier, more chromatic middle section". The repetition of the beginning has been "infected by the agitated atmosphere of the nocturne's center," and causes "the reprise
Reprise
Reprise is a fundamental device in the history of art. In literature, a reprise consists of the rewriting of another work; in music, a reprise is the repetition or reiteration of the opening material later in a composition as occurs in the recapitulation of sonata form, though—originally in the...
some time to recapture the gentleness that is its rightful tone," according to Johnson. Friskin found that "the middle section offers good practice in the maintenance of a melodic line in the outer fingers while playing supporting chords
Chord (music)
A chord in music is any harmonic set of two–three or more notes that is heard as if sounding simultaneously. These need not actually be played together: arpeggios and broken chords may for many practical and theoretical purposes be understood as chords...
in the same hand."
The nocturne is among the works of Chopin orchestrated in the ballet Les Sylphides
Les Sylphides
Les Sylphides is a short, non-narrative ballet blanc. Its original choreography was by Michel Fokine, with music by Frédéric Chopin orchestrated by Alexander Glazunov. Glazunov had already set some of the music in 1892 as a purely orchestral suite, under the title Chopiniana, Op. 46...
.