Whats your favourite chopin nocturne?

[Kaylia_D.]

Hi everyone,

I am fond of all of chopin's nocturnes...just want to hear what your favourite nocturne is and why?

Your response is greatly appreciated.


Kaylia_D

[dinosaurtales]

op 27 #1.  It's got that "mysterioso" thing going at the beginning, and a middle section that's just "hot".  Measures 65 - 80 strike me as a bit odd, though - sort of like a mini-polonaise - What caused him to put that in there?

[Kaylia_D.]

hmm i am listening to the same nocturne now ( no. 7 ) from Ashkenazy . Yes the bars you pointed out does indeed sound like a mini polonaise.

is it hard to learn?

Anyway thats what i like about the chopin nocturnes....their unexpected nature. Most of them start out all as though one is in a dream...a trance like state but soon that dream turns into a nightmare or something of a more pensive nature.

By the way i have more than one "favourite".

i like op. 15 no (1-3), op.15 (1-3) , op. 27 (1-2), op. 32 (1-2), op. 37 (1-2), op. 48 (1-2)

op. 55 (1-2), op. 62 (1-2), op. 72 no 1  and the two posthumus ones

Oh snap!  It just occurred to me that i've named all!!! (my point exactly)

Kaylia_D

[raffyplayspiano]

I really, really, like F sharp major nocturne...i believe its opus 15 no 2?, not quite sure, but i think its delightful. 

also like the D flat major that most everyone likes, but not as much. 
 

Raffy

[stormx]

The first one,  Op.9 nº1.

It is extremely beautiful 

[Goldberg]

I'm particularly fond of op. 9 no. 3, and a second best would have to be op. 62 no. 2....most of the nocturnes are wonderful though! Some, I've never managed to "get into"...

[Derek]

I really, really, like F sharp major nocturne...i believe its opus 15 no 2?, not quite sure, but i think its delightful.

also like the D flat major that most everyone likes, but not as much.
 

Raffy

I agree with you about the F sharp major one! I think its my favorite too.

[quantum]

Op.9/1; Op.27/2; Op.48/1

But really I like them all. 

[thalbergmad]

Op9 no1 does it for me. Makes me cry when i play it.

[pianomann1984]

F major, Op 15, No 1 - great stormy middle section - makes you wonder what Chopin got up to during his nights!!!  Also, the posthumous C# minor - never fails to reduce me to tears. 

[freddychopin]

Opus 9/3

No Doubt. I love the middle

[steinwayguy]

Two B Major- Op. 9 No. 3 and Op. 62 No. 1, not to mention Op. 48 No. 1

[Kaylia_D.]

yes op. 48 no 1 is stupendous...i personally think its in a class of its own.

I've tried playing it but ran out of patience...i was only able to successfully tackle the first section. The mid section has too many stretches for my hand to cope with. Any tips?


Oh by the way one of my personal favourites is (i know it sounds wierd but the mid section gives me goosebumps) op 32 no 2 (# 10)

Kaylia_D

[Awakening]

My favorites are 48/1, 55/1, 15/3, 72/1, C# minor Posthumous, 9/1, and 48/2.  I have only heard about half of them all the way through, though.  I really need to pick up a recording or two of all e nocturnes.

[MaryBox]

Op. 9, No. 1 always restores my love for the instrument.

[sonatainfsharp]

9/1. It's the only one I really like, but I really, really like it!

[dave santino]

C# minor posth., first heard it played by Szpilman, who is imo one of the foremost interpretators of Chopin of the 20th century. Beautiful melody, gorgeous ornamentation, perfect piece for the middle of a set.

[dinosaurtales]

Op9 no1 does it for me. Makes me cry when i play it.

Makes me cry when I play it, too!  I can't reach the RH octaves in the middle section and it hurts!

[C-A]

Op.9, no.1 is my most favorite. The piece is really beautiful to hear, much more beautiful than Op.9, no.2 with its repetative theme.
Op.9, no.1 really soothes me after all that stress in driving lessons and practicing Chopin's 10/1 etude. Sometimes it does bring tears to my eyes- especially the middle section.

Followed by Nocturne Op.27, no.1- it's just as relaxing as 9/1. The coda is very beautiful to hear.

Then at 3rd place is Op.15, no.2- Makes me feel that I'm like in a 1st-class restaurant sitting in a table eating my favorite plate of 1 whole family-sized Roast Chicken, 3 cups of rice at night, but the feeling just disappears at the middle section, but thats alright. At least the theme comes back again.
I also like Nocturnes 9/3, 27/2, 48/1, and 55/2

[rhapsody in orange]

Op9 no1 does it for me. Makes me cry when i play it.

Agreed. Bb minor.. Makes me wanna cry even listening to it. It's the kind of music you can listen to and thoughts would start flooding your mind..
I like C# minor (posth) too..
Prefer music in minor keys.. hee.

[nanabush]

My favorite part of the Op 9 # 1 nocturen is in one of the first measures... After the 22uplet or w/e, it plays 3 b flats, then to a, then the melody following is so peaceful, I haven't played the entire nocturne, but just enjoy playing that one part..I'm not sure havn't heard the entire thing lol, not sure if that one meldoy ever returns..

[rob47]

i'll tell u which my least favourite, c # minor posthumous. The sketch to the second concerto.  The one from the Pianist.  The one people think is awesome.

Chopin......*sigh* God I hate him.

[chopintod]

i'll tell u which my least favourite, c # minor posthumous. The sketch to the second concerto.  The one from the Pianist.  The one people think is awesome.

Chopin......*sigh* God I hate him.

You know, Rob, I could hate you forever for that statement......just joking.

Chopin....*sigh* God I hate him.

But seriously, why?  Why do you hate him? He's my fav.  I know it's a matter of personal preference, but I'm just curious.

[presto agitato]

This is a very hard question

Op 9-1 is probably the most beautiful piano piece ever written, however Op 15-3 and Op 55-1 are my favorites.

[Barbosa-piano]

  I love each one of them very much, but my favorite one is the one in C Sharp Minor Opus Posth.

[zemos]

Op, 48 no. 1 in Cm. It's amazing!
But really, I like all of the nocturnes. Each one has something special... (:
Chopin, you're the best!

[chelsey]

I have a sentimental attachment to Op.9 No.1

It was this piece that landed me a position in my current teacher's studio. It was the single piece that I took a serious effort towards, it was technically beyond me at the time, but my love for the emotion in this piece drove me. This is the single piece that renders me all warm and fuzzy inside, lol. It makes me happy.

[Chrysalis]

Opus 9.1.....

Then opus 9.2

[greyrune]

well to be completely original i'm going to go for.... op9 no1, it was actually the first peice of classical music i ever learned and i think will always have a warm fuzzy place in my heart.  I also really like op32 no1 though, that one's overlooked i reckon, the ending is a bit weird but the rest is really lovely.

[klick]

48-1. I find the middle part so beatiful, then it goes all chromatic....i love it.

[nanabush]

K once again, is anybody with me on saying that the most beautiful melody written is near the start of op9 1, after the 22uplet, the 3 b flats, then the few bars following that is where it is the nicest music I have ever heard in my life...It makes me feel great when I hear it.

[paris]

i like them all but op.48/1 is awsome. and c# minor. and e-minor op.posth... 

[hiline]

Op9 No1 for me,the composition I am practising,the very first composition in my CD of Chopin's nocturnes.

[sissco]

27/2 for me...beautifull....especially when Wibi Soerjadi palys it  , 72/1, 27/1 and post. c# minor on the "second place"

[amojoam]

Nocturne in B minor Op. 9 No. 1

I like the mysteriousness.



(woah, i totally feel unoriginal reading everyone elses favorites. I guess it's greatness is self-evident).

[hiline]

Nocturne in B minor Op. 9 No. 1

I like the mysteriousness.

So do I.

[chopinfan_22]

Op. 9 Nos. 1 and 2

[chopinfan_22]

Scratch that.

Upon further listening... His Nocturne Op. Posthumous in C# 

[I Love Xenakis]

Op. 48 No. 1 and Op. 62 No. 1


I don't honestly know why they're my favorite; they just emotionally connect to me more strongly than the others.  Couldn't say why though.

[lisztisforkids]

Op. 48 No. 1 and Op. 62 No. 1


I don't honestly know why they're my favorite; they just emotionally connect to me more strongly than the others.  Couldn't say why though.

I agree, Op.48 no 1, is a piece that I connect well with to...

Op. 55 no 1... its a perfect piece of music

Op.0  no 1.. well... kind of sucks..

[xenon]

Scratch that.

Upon further listening... His Nocturne Op. Posthumous in C# 

I'm going to fourth that.  I played that piece about 4 years ago and to date is  probably still one of my most favourite Chopin pieces.  It's absolutely gorgeous =), especially those crazy runs at the end.  I think I played from, the Peters edition? *shudder*  However, the version Ashkenazy plays is a lot better.

[elisianna]

Op. 9 No. 1 and op. posth. in C#

[xamy]

Everytime I listen to them my favourite one changes. Agree with most of the ones listed, would like to add  Op. 32 No. 2 In A Flat.   

[phil13]

The two that have always topped my charts are the Op.48 nocturnes, first No.1 and then No.2.

Phil

[emmdoubleew]

C# minor posth., first heard it played by Szpilman, who is imo one of the foremost interpretators of Chopin of the 20th century. Beautiful melody, gorgeous ornamentation, perfect piece for the middle of a set.

Szpilman is waayy too liberal with rythm.


One of Chopin's students, Friederike Muller, wrote the following in her diary about Chopin's playing style:  He also demanded the strictest adherence to rhythm. He hated all lingering and dragging, misplaced rubatos, as well as exaggerated ritardandos ... and it is precisely in this respect that people make such terrible errors in playing his works.


My favorites right now are Op 55. 1 and Op 62. 2

[westley]

I can't believe no on has named Op. 55 #2!

Thats my favorite.  Horowitz and Friedman have made beautiful recordings of it.