Nocturne in Eb Major

The “Nocturne” as a musical form was pioneered by the Irish composer John Field and developed as a definitive form for piano solo by Frederic Chopin. The nocturnes of Chopin explored various keys and followed an A-B-A form with the middle section being developed in related keys. Chopin incorporated contrapuntal embellishments to the melody reflecting the influence of “bel canto” style of operatic singing with an underlying aria.

The main motif is expressed over the first sixteen measures characterized by a chordal downbeat followed by four sixteen notes in the second beat all over an arpeggiated sixteenth note chordal harmony in the bass. The theme of the first section then modulates briefly to the key of A♭ Major with an embellishment of the basic theme before modulating onward to D♭ Major continuing its development before returning to a restatement of the primary melody in E♭ Major. A languid series of chords in B♭ minor leads to an agitated middle section with double contrapuntal motions in the alto and tenor voices.

A secondary melody in the middle section proceeds in the related key of E♭ minor with an Andante tempo before recapitulating the stormy middle section in B♭ minor after transitioning through the languid series of chords. The nocturne returns to the primary series of melodies in reverse order of initial presentation of D♭ Major, A♭ Major and concluding in the home key of E♭ Major with restatement of the chordal progression of the middle section.

The piece was written intermittently over the period 03 December 2017 through 10 February 2019 and is dedicated to Dr Marc Evanstein who serves as the composer’s mentor.