Program Notes - Chopin Marathon, 2 March 2025

Chopin’s Nocturnes, Op. 62, composed in 1846, are celebrated for their lyrical beauty, emotional depth, and harmonic sophistication. These two pieces reflect Chopin’s mature style, combining delicate melodies with intricate counterpoint.

Nocturne No. 1 in B major, Op. 62 (1846)

The first nocturne opens with a graceful and flowing melody in the right hand, supported by a gentle accompaniment in the left hand. The middle section, in the distant key of A-flat major, introduces a more uneasy, restrained mood, marked by syncopated left-hand chords. This section creates harmonic tension before transitioning back to the home key of B major. The return of the main theme is richly ornamented, and the piece builds to a long coda that ends gently with a peaceful resolution in B major.

Nocturne No. 2 in E major, Op. 62 (1846)

The Nocturne in E-flat major follows a reflective and contrapuntal structure. The primary theme, slow and lyrical, is followed by a quicker secondary theme with climbing bass runs. The third section, in C-sharp minor, is agitated and contrapuntal, with melodic interplay between the hands. After a dissonant arpeggio, the primary theme returns, now accompanied by modified harmonies and embellishments. The nocturne concludes with a coda that reaffirms the tonic E-flat major, bringing the piece to a gentle close. This is the last nocturne Chopin composed in his lifetime, though three more were published posthumously.

Written by Phu Koanantakool