Nocturne
Romantic works
Definition
A lyrical, contemplative piece evocative of night. Typically in a slow or moderate tempo with a singing right-hand melody over a broken-chord left-hand accompaniment.
Historical Context
John Field invented the piano nocturne in the early 19th century, but Chopin transformed it into a vehicle of extraordinary sophistication through ornamented melody, subtle harmonic language, and a wide range of emotional depth. Fauré and Scriabin later extended the form significantly. Liszt's late Liebesträume are sometimes classified as nocturnes.
Works (30)
- Nocturne in G♯ minor (early version) Key G♯ minor
- Nocturne No. 1 in B♭ minor Key B♭ minor
- Nocturne No. 2 in B minor Key B minor
- Nocturne No. 3 in D minor Key D minor
- Nocturne (Homage to John Field), Op. 33 Key E♭ major
- Nocturne, Op. 107
- L'Ange de la nuit, Op. 107
- Nocturne in E minor, Op. 72 No. 1 (posth.) Key E minor
- Nocturne in B major, Op. 9 No. 3 Key B major
- Nocturne in B-flat minor, Op. 9 No. 1 Key B♭ minor
- Nocturne in C-sharp minor (posth.) Key C♯ minor
- Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 9 No. 2 Key E♭ major
- Nocturne in F major, Op. 15 No. 1 Key F major
- Nocturne in F-sharp major, Op. 15 No. 2 Key F♯ major
- Nocturne in G minor, Op. 15 No. 3 Key G minor
- Nocturne in C-sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 1 Key C♯ minor
- Nocturne in D-flat major, Op. 27 No. 2 Key D♭ major
- Nocturne in A-flat major, Op. 32 No. 2 Key A♭ major
- Nocturne in B major, Op. 32 No. 1 Key B major
- Nocturne in C minor (posth.) Key C minor
- Nocturne in G major, Op. 37 No. 2 Key G major
- Nocturne in G minor, Op. 37 No. 1 Key G minor
- Nocturne in C minor, Op. 48 No. 1 Key C minor
- Nocturne in F-sharp minor, Op. 48 No. 2 Key F♯ minor
- Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 55 No. 2 Key E♭ major
- Nocturne in F minor, Op. 55 No. 1 Key F minor
- Nocturne in B major, Op. 62 No. 1 Key B major
- Nocturne in E major, Op. 62 No. 2 Key E major
- Night-Spell I
- The Phantom Gondolier