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
Mazurka Op. 33 No. 1 in g-sharp minor
Waltz Op 34 N° 2
Mazurka Op 67 N° 4
Nocturne in D-flat Major, Op. 27, No. 2
Prelude in F major, Op. 28, No. 23, Moderato
Fantaisie-Impromptu in C-sharp Minor, Op. 66
Impromptu no. 3 in G-flat major, op. 51
Barcarolle in F-sharp Major, Op. 60
Mazurka Op 63 N° 2
Fantasy, Op. 49
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
June: Barcarolle from The Seasons, Op. 37
Les collines d’Anacapri, from Preludes, Books I
Moment Musicaux Op. 16, No. 4
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