Frédéric Chopin
Nocturne 10
in A-flat Major, Op. 32 No. 2

In this gentle Romance, agitation is mostly kept under the surface.

ID: 1019
Frédéric Chopin - Nocturnes:

Nocturne 10
Op. 32 No. 2

Key: A-flat Major
Year: 1837
Level: 7
Period: Early Romantic
piano sheet music Piano score: PS Urtext Download View score
piano sheet music Piano score: Scanned score Download View score
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A tender memory of past love?

The Nocturne in A flat major Op. 32 no. 2 seems to be in the character of a gentle Romance, or perhaps a Barcarolle. It follows the A-B-A formal structure Chopin often employed for his Nocturnes, with a dramatic middle section surrounded by calmer outer sections. In this case, though, there are no vast outbursts of torment, just an increasingly agitated atmosphere as the middle section traverses through f minor to f sharp minor and back to A flat major and the passionate return of the main theme. Interestingly, the Nocturne begins and ends with the same two-bar chordal passage, as if the pianist is opening and closing a book. Perhaps we have just listened to a tender memory of a past love?

Background

The Nocturnes of Op. 32 were written and published in 1837. Less technically demanding than many of the other Nocturnes, they have much to offer to the late intermediate student.


Forum posts about this piece:

Chopin Nocturne Op. 32 no. 2 by librisgeek
Hello all.  I am just getting started in playing piano again.  I do not have a lot of experience with mordents.  I was wondering if someone could tell me: In bar 29 of this piece I...

Piano sheet music and recordings. This piece is from Nocturnes by Frédéric Chopin: Nocturne Op. 32 No. 2 in A-flat Major (published in 1837) . Level 7, Period: Early Romantic
Nocturne Op. 32 No. 2 in A-flat Major, by the early romantic composer Frédéric Chopin. This piano piece was initially published in the year 1837 and is included in Nocturnes by Chopin.