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The Nocturnes, Op. 9 are a set of three nocturnes written by Frédéric Chopin between 1830 and 1832, published that year, and dedicated to Madame Camille Pleyel. The second nocturne of the work is regarded as Chopin’s most famous piece.
Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 9 No. 2
Chopin composed his best-known Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 9, No. 2 when he was around
twenty years old.
This well-known nocturne is in rounded binary form (A, A, B, A, B, A) with coda, C. The A
and B sections become increasingly ornamented with each recurrence. The penultimate bar
utilizes considerable rhythmic freedom, indicated by the instruction, senza tempo (without
tempo). Nocturne in E-flat major opens with a legato melody, mostly played piano,
containing graceful upward leaps which becomes increasingly wide as the line unfolds. This
melody is heard again three times during the piece. With each repetition, it is varied by ever
more elaborate decorative tones and trills. The nocturne also includes a subordinate melody,
which is played with rubato.
A sonorous foundation for the melodic line is provided by the widely spaced notes in the
accompaniment, connected by the damper pedal. The waltz-like accompaniment gently
emphasizes the 12/8 meter, 12 beats to the measure subdivided into four groups of 3 beats
each.
The nocturne is reflective in mood until it suddenly becomes passionate near the end. The
new concluding melody begins softly but then ascends to a high register and is played
forcefully in octaves, eventually reaching the loudest part of the piece, marked fortissimo.
After a trill-like passage, the excitement subsides; the nocturne ends calmly.
Analysis
* John Rink “Structural momentum and closure in Chopin’s Nocturne Op 9 No 2” in
Schenker Studies 2 (ed. Carl Schachter, Hedi Siegel) pp102-127 Cambridge
University Press, 2006 ISBN 0-521-02832-9, ISBN 978-0-521-02832-5.
* Jean-Jacques Eigeldinger “Nocturne op. 9/2, E flat major” in Chopin: pianist and
teacher as seen by his pupils (ed. Jean-Jacques Eigeldinger, Roy Howat) pp77-79
Cambridge University Press, 1989 ISBN 0-521-36709-3, ISBN 978-0-521-36709-7.
* Eleanor Bailie “Nocturne No. 2 in E flat major” in Chopin: a graded practical guide
(Eleanor Bailie, Issue 3 of The pianist’s repertoire) pp303-306 Kahn & Averill, 1998
ISBN 1-871082-67-6, ISBN 978-1-871082-67-8.
In theatre
The final dance of the ballet In the Night by Jerome Robbins (1970), was choreographed to
this music.
