The last of Chopin’s nocturnes to be assigned an opus number, the Nocturne in E minor is, in fact, the first that Chopin composed, dating from the late 1820s. It was one of several pieces Chopin was not satisfied enough with to ever publish. Upon his death, he wished for all his unpublished manuscripts to be destroyed. Of course, this wish went unheeded, and the piece was published as part of the posthumous op. 72 in 1855, along with the Marche funèbre and the 3 Ecossaises.
Though very close in style to the Fieldian nocturne, Chopin’s first essay into the genre bears his unmistakable stamp. Against the gentle accompaniment of broken chords in triplet rhythm, a melancholy tune full of longing gracefully unfolds. Chopin repeats the melody with modest embellishments, after which the music becomes slightly disturbed by the emphasis of duple eighths against the underlying current of triplets. After a close on the dominant, a new melody briefly emerges over a dominant pedal and strongly leans towards the key of E major. This brief eight-measure section is the only point of contrast, if it can indeed be called such, in the piece. Immediately following, the principal theme resumes, now varied with more Chopin-esque ornamentation, imbuing it temporarily with increased passion. However, it soon subsides back into its wistful state. The contrasting phrase heard earlier then returns to form the nocturne’s coda, now appearing over a tonic pedal and drawing the music to a conclusion in E major. Joseph DuBose
Classical Music | Piano Music
Frédéric Chopin
Nocturne op. 72 Play
Recorded on 12/31/1969, uploaded on 09/06/2015
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
Nocturne in E minor, op. 72, no. 1
The last of Chopin’s nocturnes to be assigned an opus number, the Nocturne in E minor is, in fact, the first that Chopin composed, dating from the late 1820s. It was one of several pieces Chopin was not satisfied enough with to ever publish. Upon his death, he wished for all his unpublished manuscripts to be destroyed. Of course, this wish went unheeded, and the piece was published as part of the posthumous op. 72 in 1855, along with the Marche funèbre and the 3 Ecossaises.
Though very close in style to the Fieldian nocturne, Chopin’s first essay into the genre bears his unmistakable stamp. Against the gentle accompaniment of broken chords in triplet rhythm, a melancholy tune full of longing gracefully unfolds. Chopin repeats the melody with modest embellishments, after which the music becomes slightly disturbed by the emphasis of duple eighths against the underlying current of triplets. After a close on the dominant, a new melody briefly emerges over a dominant pedal and strongly leans towards the key of E major. This brief eight-measure section is the only point of contrast, if it can indeed be called such, in the piece. Immediately following, the principal theme resumes, now varied with more Chopin-esque ornamentation, imbuing it temporarily with increased passion. However, it soon subsides back into its wistful state. The contrasting phrase heard earlier then returns to form the nocturne’s coda, now appearing over a tonic pedal and drawing the music to a conclusion in E major. Joseph DuBose
Recoded 1952
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
Classical Music for the Internet Era™