Frédéric Chopin
Nocturne 4
in F Major, Op. 15 No. 1

Requiring a refined technique, the fourth Nocturne goes from sunny reverie to dark, fiery drama.

ID: 1013
Frédéric Chopin - Nocturnes:

Nocturne 4
Op. 15 No. 1

Key: F Major
Year: 1834
Level: 8
Period: Early Romantic
Nocturne 4 Op. 15 No. 1 in F Major by Chopin piano sheet music
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Calm before the storm

The opening theme of the F major Nocturne of Op. 15, both sunny and at times mysteriously longing, belies the stormy middle section which follows. The piece follows a simple A-B-A scheme to great effect, the drama being suddenly born out of the fading reverie of the opening section, pitting dark cascades of sound against moments of more light and hope. The opening section finally returns with only tiny modifications to conclude the piece.

Technique-wise this Nocturne is more challenging than the other Nocturnes in the opus, as well as those of Op. 9 which preceded it. The middle section's right-hand double note pattern in particular demands a highly refined technique to play in tempo.


Background

The three Nocturnes Op. 15 were written between 1830 and 1833 and published in 1834, when Chopin was in his early twenties. They demonstrate the young composer, already masterful at his craft, making the Nocturne genre more fully his own compared to the earlier, John Field-inspired Nocturnes of Op. 9.


Forum posts about this piece:

Chopin Nocturne Op 15 No 1 by kliewe
Is he kidding with some of those double-notes in the Con Fuoco? I have a fairly small hand and find some of those combinations impossible. ...

Nocturne Op.15 No.1 by frank_48
is it possible to learn this piece in 2 months? there ar a bunch of college auditions going in in june and id like to enter, i was looking f...

The F minor section of Chopin's Nocturne Op.15 No.1 by Richard W
It is the right hand in the opening bar of the F minor section (bar 25). If you can play it, please share with me the hand and arm movements...


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Nocturne Op. 15 No. 1 in F Major (published in 1834) from Nocturnes by Frédéric Chopin - piano sheet music to download and print instantly.
Nocturne in F Major - Op. 15 No. 1 is a piano piece by the early romantic composer Frédéric Chopin who lived between the years 1810 and 1849.
The composition was first published in 1834 and is included in Nocturnes by Chopin.