PlayPiano

Romantic · nocturne

Nocturne in E minor, Op. posth. 72 No. 1 (often numbered No. 19)

Frédéric Chopin · Level 7, estimated · With Maestro

Practise it in PlayPiano

The short answer

Nocturne in E minor, Op. posth. 72 No. 1 (often numbered No. 19) is a nocturne by Frédéric Chopin from the Romantic era. PlayPiano puts it at Level 7, an estimate.

On this page
  • nocturne
  • Romantic
  • melancholic

History

Chopin wrote this E-minor nocturne as a young man in 1827, but it appeared only after his death when Julian Fontana published it in 1855. The familiar 'No. 19' label counts it among the nocturnes; Op. 72 No. 1 identifies its posthumous publication grouping.

Sources

What to listen for

  1. Lower triplets prepare a singing entry

    The lower triplet introduction continues when the upper melody enters. Hear its flowing foundation beneath the longer singing line.

  2. Quiet chord pairs change the response

    Paired quiet responses lead into changed continuation. Listen for their different density after the earlier expanding melody.

  3. An octave recall includes an inner answer

    The melody returns in octaves with an inner response. Hear both layers rather than letting the broader upper sound cover the counterline.

  4. The closing sequence fades toward rests

    Quieter paired responses lead toward the last low chord and rests. Hear the longer ending route as the decorated motion subsides.

How to practise it

Lower broken pattern before the high entry; brief approach to a sustained high tone.

  1. Practise the six-note lower contour quietly and keep it continuous while preparing the later high entry.
  2. Hear the approach as leading into the long tone, and rehearse sustaining that arrival without making the moving lower pattern louder.

How hard is it

Level 7, estimated

A long singing melody with ornaments must remain continuous above moving accompaniment.

About this piece

Interpretive sketch of Frédéric Chopin, an illustration and not a verified likeness
An illustration, not a portrait
Collection
Night music
Licence
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0
Source
mutopiaproject.org
Credit
“Nocturne No. 19 in E minor” by F. F. Chopin (1810 to 1849). Mutopia edition maintained by Benjamin D. Esham. Source: https://www.mutopiaproject.org/cgibin/piece-info.cgi?id=509. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/. Changes to the supplied file: none; any later conversion or edit must be disclosed separately.

More by Frédéric Chopin

  1. Prelude in A major, Op. 28 No. 7Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
  2. Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 9 No. 2Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
  3. Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52Level 10, estimatedWith Maestro

With Maestro

Play it, slow it down, hear where you land

Lower broken pattern before the high entry; brief approach to a sustained high tone.

Practise it in PlayPiano