Chopin Nocturne 15.2 (remastered)
I had a request for “MORE CHOPIN!” which made me realize that I’ve been neglecting the poor fellow — and he’s such a favorite of mine! I’ve been working on two new Chopin nocturnes, and I’ll hopefully be ready to record them soon. In the meantime, however, here’s one I’ve played for a long time, in a freshly remastered recording.
I like what I wrote about this piece when I posted this recording in its earlier, less acoustically pristine form, so I’ll say it again: It’s organic, and sounds almost improvised — except that it is impossibly perfect in every detail. Its soundscape is vast, deep, and richly pianistic, but look at the construction and you’ll see the spare elegance of Bach. It has a loving tenderness, and a longing, that’s unlike anything else, yet seems instantly familiar. And it’s gorgeous.
Frédéric Chopin
Nocturne Op 15 No 2 (in F sharp major)
Download (4:32 / 5.3 M)
There’s nothing quite like learning to play a piece of music to really get inside it. With this one, like many I’ve shared here, I knew it was excellent music before I started learning it — but once I’m inside it, once I’m feeling through the piece with my own hands and working through its many parts with the microscope of learning, once I really start to “get it” about the music … it’s just staggering how good it is. It just floors me. I don’t know how much of that comes across in my playing — certainly I’m only communicating a small shadow of that experience — but I hope you can share my sense of wonder that we have this music in our world.
Sorry, I made a mistake above, accidentally pressed the enter key before writing the message =) I think this piece is absolutely lovely. I’m working on this piece too and I think you have inspired me. It’s melody is so rich although it feels like it is being played in a vast, empty place. I really like how you played the grace notes and the exciting part in the middle. I really really love your blog!
It’s so true what you say about playing a piece to really get inside it. That’s one of the biggest things I missed after I stopped playing piano (due to lack of an instrument originally, and now time as well). I was left imagining how it would feel to play a piece when listening to a performance. And, listening to your performance, I think this piece must feel wonderful!
I just want to say I was plodding through some Chopin pieces and found your site about a year ago. I recently came back around to see if you had done one of the nocturns i was working on and I was DELIGHTED to know that you did..
I find it encouraging that someone thinks the same thing about getting inside pieces when learning to play them. I love it when I get to some phrases and after picking them out and then playing them inline.. you stop and go… Ohh… hmmm… wow. Some pieces are beasts to play, but after the memory kicks in - it’s rich.. endowed. Full of fire and ice. - Anways great job on your blog. It’s always a pleasure to come back and see something new and exciting.
You are an awesome pianist bro! Keep up the really good work! And thanks for posting the music for free, I love it.
I love your website… I have great appreciate for music and art.. even i have decided to dedicate a blog on music. I would love to add your website on my blog roll :) featuring even your music but of course with your permission.
Would love to share the love of music with everyone! Hope to be in touch more.
Hope you will like my website too.
Elvin
Music, The Flower of Culture
http://www.elvinsiew.com
You have really inspired me. The amount of feeling you put into this music, it comes out so fluid and natural. This stuff is not just notes on paper when you play it; it comes to life. I look forward to more Chopin! :)
I think maybe I can attempt to play these (with the exception of Nocturne 15 and Ballade 47), although I am pretty much a novice pianist. At least, it seems worth trying.
Thanks for the inspiration~
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i found this site in a search for chopin..what a wonderful place..ive downloaded all the available pieces..and will put them in my mp3 player for my enjoyment when i walk..
i wanted to take piano as a child but we were to poor..so when i was in my 30’s i bought myself a piano…no, i never took a lesson, and i have no natural talent..but i can read notes..so i have been playing for my own enjoyment for almost 30 years..if you could hear me you would cringe..but i love it above all other instruments..and i love chopin..especially his waltzes.
no i cannot talk of composition and such as others at this site have..all i can say is chopin speaks to my soul..
and should it not…did he not compose from his..
wow nice playing! im working on this piece as well, and I really can’t play the Doppio movimento part. i don’t get the rhythm. like how the left hand fits with the right hand. can you please tell me when to play in the left hand??? plz!!!!! even after listening to your performance, i don’t get it. plz tell me!
firecrackers: Somtimes the left hand is at the same time as the right, and sometimes it is halfway in between. How do you tell? Well, if you don’t want to work out the math for yourself, just look at how the notes line up on the page. That is precise enough — the rhythm in that section is only approximate. Chopin is not Elliot Carter.
Hey thanks for the awesome Chopin music!!! It’s good you love Chopin so much. I’m excited because I get to play two Chopin pieces for my grade 7 exam, I’m playing this one and also a Waltz in A minor. Wow I’m excited! :-)
great stuff,thanks
My mother is in a nursing home. She has her degree in music, and taught piano for many years. I was showing her the power of the Internet, and she selected to learn about Chopin. YOur wonderful site popped up, and voila, sound files, that took her back. She thought your playing, esp. the Nocturne, was wonderful. The whole floor was alive with your music. Thanks for this free experience. A concert in our own “front room".
Great tone!
Eugene
Piano Lessons