The two nocturnes published as op. 37 form a marvelous pair of contrasting major/minor key pieces. Published in 1840, they were also composed around that time. The latter of the two, that in G major, with its barcarolle rhythms, is believed to have been composed the previous year when Chopin accompanied George Sand to the island of Majorca. At one time, these two works were highly praised. Robert Schumann considered them the finest nocturnes Chopin composed describing them as “of that nobler kind under which poetic ideality gleams more transparently (than the earlier Nocturnes).” However, since the twentieth century, this praise has somewhat waned.
...In contrast, the second piece of the set adopts the key of G major and the more usual compound meter of the Fieldian nocturne. Against the accompaniment of broken chords allotted to the left hand is presented a blithe melody sweetly harmonized in thirds and sixths. Besides its carefree and somewhat languorous demeanor, the melody adds an element of sensuousness by means of its harmonic adventurousness, first touching upon A minor, then arriving at D-flat major and B-flat major, before returning to the tonic key. In place of the more usual ternary design, Chopin adopts a rondo form by contrasting this principal theme with a twice-appearing sostenuto episode. Contrary to the overall opinion of the op. 37 set, the melody of this episode, which in its basic form is hardly changed, is considered among Chopin’s finest, possessed with an overwhelming sense of happiness and contentment. Yet, despite its simple form, Chopin presents the tune in no less than five different keys, ranging from C major to A-flat major, between the two appearances of the episode, in which he moves seamlessly from one key to the next. The opening theme is briefly reprised following each statement of the episode, but it is the episode’s simple tune that brings the nocturne to its quite, joyous conclusion.
Classical Music | Piano Music
Frédéric Chopin
Nocturne op. 37, no. 2 Play
Recorded on 06/01/2005, uploaded on 09/06/2015
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
The two nocturnes published as op. 37 form a marvelous pair of contrasting major/minor key pieces. Published in 1840, they were also composed around that time. The latter of the two, that in G major, with its barcarolle rhythms, is believed to have been composed the previous year when Chopin accompanied George Sand to the island of Majorca. At one time, these two works were highly praised. Robert Schumann considered them the finest nocturnes Chopin composed describing them as “of that nobler kind under which poetic ideality gleams more transparently (than the earlier Nocturnes).” However, since the twentieth century, this praise has somewhat waned.
...In contrast, the second piece of the set adopts the key of G major and the more usual compound meter of the Fieldian nocturne. Against the accompaniment of broken chords allotted to the left hand is presented a blithe melody sweetly harmonized in thirds and sixths. Besides its carefree and somewhat languorous demeanor, the melody adds an element of sensuousness by means of its harmonic adventurousness, first touching upon A minor, then arriving at D-flat major and B-flat major, before returning to the tonic key. In place of the more usual ternary design, Chopin adopts a rondo form by contrasting this principal theme with a twice-appearing sostenuto episode. Contrary to the overall opinion of the op. 37 set, the melody of this episode, which in its basic form is hardly changed, is considered among Chopin’s finest, possessed with an overwhelming sense of happiness and contentment. Yet, despite its simple form, Chopin presents the tune in no less than five different keys, ranging from C major to A-flat major, between the two appearances of the episode, in which he moves seamlessly from one key to the next. The opening theme is briefly reprised following each statement of the episode, but it is the episode’s simple tune that brings the nocturne to its quite, joyous conclusion.
Recorded in June 2005
courtesy of YouTube
More music by Frédéric Chopin
Ballade N° 3
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
Barcarolle in F-sharp Major, Op. 60
Mazurka Op 63 N° 2
Fantasy, Op. 49
Fantaisie-Impromptu in C-sharp Minor, Op. 66
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