Chopin’s Nocturnes Op. 9/3, Op. 27/1, Op. 62/1, 2

Nocturne in B major, Op. 9, No. 3 is in ABA form with coda. The first section consists of ornamentation (e.g., mm. 17) and a sweeping melody (e.g., mm. 11) The agitato section is very dramatic. The right hand plays both the melody and counter-melody, while the left plays the figurations in triplets. The coda section seems somewhat abrupt owing to the sudden shift of the harmony. In the two measures before the adagio section, there is a wide chord in the left hand (F#-C#-F#-A#-E) and coloratura ornaments displayed in the right.




















Nocturne in C# Minor, Op. 27, No. 1 is also in ABA form with coda. The key alternates between the minor and major third scale degrees (E and E#) in the opening. The left hand sounds restless due to its persistent use of arpeggiated figuration. Overall, this nocturne sounds melancholy. The psychological tension is so strong at times that is completely different from that of Field’s nocturnes.















Music critic Rellstab describes the difference in tone as follows: “When Field smiles, Chopin makes a grinning grimace; where Field sighs, Chopin groans; where Field shrugs his shoulders, Chopin twists his whole body; where Field puts some seasoning into the food, Chopin empties a handful of cayenne pepper. In short, if one holds Field’s charming romances before a distorting, concave mirror, so that every delicate impression becomes a coarse one, one gets Chopin’s work. We implore Mr. Chopin to return to nature”(qtd. in Huneker 143).


Another critic, J. W. Davison, adds, “Commonplace is instinctively avoided in all the works of Chopin- a stale cadence or a trite progression” (qtd. in Huneker 143).


Op. 62, No. 1 in B major also sounds melancholy. Events occurring in Chopin’s life likely inspired this somber tone. While writing the nocturnes, Chopin’s health was deteriorating, as was his relationship with George Sand. The melodic profile is much more ornamented than ever, particularly when the theme recurs in the poco piu lento section. Op. 62, No. 2 was the last nocturne published during Chopin’s lifetime. This piece gives listeners the impression that he is reluctant to leave the world. He died three years later.


From Op. 9 to Op. 62, listeners can perceive a huge change in the way he composed his nocturnes.