Chopin's early Nocturnes, such as the famous Op. 9 No. 2, frankly imitated the style of John Field, an Irish composer known for his piano nocturnes.
Compositional Technique
Chopin put his individual stamp on the Nocturne genre by importing contrasting internal sections that fundamentally differ from the outer sections.
Performer Biography
Louis Lortie, a French-Canadian pianist, has received critical acclaim for his broad repertoire and has made over thirty recordings for Chandos.
Compositional Technique
Chopin's Ballades all use a compound metre (6/8), which was favored in vocal ballades, and their length allows for more complex emotional states.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Chopin's audiences would have understood the genres of ballades, nocturnes, berceuses, and barcarolles as types of songs, evoking diverse experiences and places.
Compositional Technique
Chopin's Ballades often mimic dramatic narrative through transformations of themes, complex entwining of styles, and dynamic closing sections.
Interpretation
Pianist Louis Lortie plays a nocturne before each major Chopin composition on this album to evoke the romantic-era practice of improvising to set the mood.
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Chopin: Nocturnes, Mazurkas, Ballades and Other Piano Favorites
