Chopin Nocturne 55.1 (remastered)
Continuing with the work of remastering all my existing home recordings, here’s a Chopin nocturne I posted almost exactly one year ago. It is a subtle, spare thing, and its spareness makes it much more difficult than it sounds. Listening to this recording again, I think I could play it better now; perhaps I’ll record it again in the future. A really fine piece of music is a lifelong exploration, so I’m certainly not opposed to posting new versions of pieces I’ve already recorded! Still, this recording is decent — the idea of the music certainly comes across, and the new sound really helps.
Frédéric Chopin
Nocturne Op 55 No 1 (in F minor)
Download (6:05 / 7.0 M)
My favorite moment of many favorites in the piece: the magical chromatic spiral toward the end (it begins at 4:25 in this recording). It was a delight picking that apart one note at a time, figuring out how Chopin put it together — then feeling it sinking comfortably into muscle memory, the ears and the fingers an organic living whole. I marvel at Chopin, and playing his music is humbling — but the wonderful thing about being a musician is that I get to make it my own all the same. (If any of you out there let out a longing sigh as you read that: it’s never too late to start (or restart) piano lessons!)
You made my evening; the remastering is noticeably better balanced and richer. Many thanks.
Keep on going Paul. Your a genius. *clapclap*
Hi,
i accidentally found your website from : http://www.classiccat.net/chopin_f/28.htm
I was just looking for some Chopin’s music to listen. Honestly, i really like your blog. Your thoughts and your recordings.
You’ve brought musical joy to lots of people!!!!
I saw your comments on my blog, Paul. Thanks for stopping by, and also for making these fine renditions available to everyone. I appreciate the music and the commentary.
I agree that it’s never too late to start piano lessons… with some basic practical theory to serve as a foundation, I think anyone can use the piano as an effective means of expression.
Joel Rosenberger
Piano by Joel
http://joelcast.blogspot.com
Nice expression, but a little plodding in sections… I really liked it when you moved ahead though ;o) You have a nice rich tone and a good feel for Chopin. oooo, I just got to the sparkling bit, vereh nice.
This posting recordings on a blog is cool, I’ll have to get into blogging if only to do that :oD Although, first I need to record something other than “Anakin’s Theme” from the Phantom Menace, lol! If I ever get my own Chopin nocturne up I’ll drop you a line :o)~
MORE CHOPIN!
Enjoyed your Chopin Fminor Nocturne - at first not clear that it was going anywhere and perhaps a bit too much left hand, but the piu moss section was clear and moved forward nicely. I’m working through all the Nocturnes and just performed Op 48 No.1 - Any thoughts on the proper relationship between the doppio movimento section and the Lento? Arrau does the section almost exactly 2x faster which I find impossible.
Hearing your blog - I may put one online too.
Dan Goodman
Ah… that nocturne is one that I have been working on for the last 2 years… I get so far…then walk away– it’s so close, and yet it elludes me. I agree about that sublime ending, all I can muster is: Aaahhhh.
:) Susan
>Nice expression, but a little plodding in sections…
??
Well let me tell you !!this is one of my most exciting web discoveries I´ve ever made on music!! but first my presentation……I am kind of newbie on this genre and on playing piano, recently I´ve start piano lessons (I´m kind of grown up now…)here at Argentina and sometimes seems imposible to me to imagine myself playing this beatiful Chopin pieces but your site is one hell of a motivator!!!.Great great site and great performance in that Nocturne, beatifully played…I just love the tempo & expression!!!!Can´t wait for more!!!. (Sorry for my lousy english)
Congrats.
Sigh…
I really do need to start learning the piano one of these days.
Hey friends,
give an ear at http://ccc.docwebs.com/EN/ENhoerliste.htm with some online pieces.
and give an eye to www.PIANOspecial.com for some ideas about improving piano technique…
greetings Wolfgang Ellenberger
Recent recording from Berlin philharmonie:
http://www.DoctorsHobbies.com/CD
Thanks
Wolfgang
Thanks for the beautiful music.
it is a great work of art….also my daughter, from my womb,loves it!
Merci, Paul, pour cette musique merveilleuse que vous offrez si généreusement aux amateurs de Beauté !
Merci Sylvie, pour écouter — et aussi pour répondre en Français. Je n’avais pas assez d’opportunités de le practiquer, comme vous pouvez voir ici, sans doubt…!
I found this site on google and just listened to you play 0p 55 no. 1 and i thought it was brilliant! well done chopin… oh and u :p how do i find your other recordings?
I’m working my way through Op. 55 No. 1, and finding the finale especially challenging. It helps to hear it played so cleanly (I don’t find any part of your performance “plodding,” and I wonder if those who mentioned that actually play…). Your description of it as a “magical chomatic spiral” is a wonderful image to keep in mind as I pick it apart and struggle to figure out for myself how Chopin put it toegther.
I read the page about subscribing to the poscast, but can I download just a piece here and there to my iPod to inspire me as I practice?
Pat: you can download a piece by right-clicking on the “Listen” link (or control-clicking if you have a one-button mouse). In the menu that pops up, depending on which web browser you have, there will be an item labeled “Download to…” or “Save to disk” or something like that.
I’m glad you like the chromatic spiral image. That section is worth analyzing carefully: separate the right hand into two voices, and look at how little variations in repetitions and turn-taking between the voices create the seemingly complex spiral effect.
terrible
This is a personal opinion: I don’t find the slower sections of this piece “plodding", but the sudden increase in speed and dynamics is rather disturbing at the various points. Also, occasionally I find the left hand is too heavy, especially at the end, and thus drowns out the melody in the right. Other than that, this sounds okay.
Its too poetic, too melodramatic, too romanticized! Chopin was never meant to be played like that; he’s probably spinning in his grave with your music.
Oh yeah, and to the people above “Anonymous": What the heck?
This site is a great find. Thank you for sharing your music with all the armchair critics here. “Plodding” is a rubbish critique, as is “too romantic” - Chopin never composed anything fast, and it’s a nocturne!
Anyway I am here so I can hear yet another player’s version of the “chromatic spiral". I just described the same part to a friend as “teetering down from a high wire". If I can transcribe it for guitar I will drop off a link here!
Eileen, czy kiedykolwiek Was spotkalem?
I too stumbled upon your site by accident. I was searching for a recording of the Deleted song entitled “One Moment Ago” from the film The 5,000 fingers of Dr T.
I found something much more enjoyable here on your site. You brought me to tears. I’ve been so wrapped up in film scores that I forgot what real music can do. Thank you.
I have been playing piano just over a month now. I can now play Beethoven Moonlight Sonata (took 2 days). Can play many others, and I love this Chopin piece. Half way through it. I like this site very much and you play the piece well.