Chopin: Scherzo 2 Op. 31 in B-flat Minor

Conversation with the dead..?

Chopin's Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor is especially notable for its sotto voce opening that seems to represent a kind of question and answer. Chopin himself used the piece in his teaching and admonished his pupils to play the first measures in a manner that evoked the image of a mortuary. The mysterious opening motif, so short and quiet that it's almost inaudible, is followed by a very loud, majestic statement. This exchange happens numerous times before we get to the vibrant flowing melody that is repeated with variation throughout the piece.

In the B section, things become quieter and more contemplative. It is almost as if the original "questioning" voice were returning to speak at a greater length, which it does with increasing confidence, making more and more emphatic statements before leading back to the return of the opening section and on to the magnificent coda. This is indeed a fascinating piece, demanding brilliance, lyricism as well as a keen sense of dramatic structure.