Today, one has decided that instead of writing about a dubstep or rock artist, one will write about a famous composer and master of Romantic music. The composer goes by the name of Frédéric Chopin. This virtuoso began to compose his own music at the tender age of eight, which goes to show why he went on to become such a famous composer. Now you’re all probably thinking, why on earth has Mark decided to review a piece that is almost 200 years old? The impact of classical music is phenomenal because even though some of this music is almost 600 years old, its legacy continues in modern day society. For example, the Muse song United States Of Eurasia continues into another song called Collateral Damage – this is in fact based on Chopin’s Nocturne Opus 9 No.2 in E Flat Major! Interesting facts like this just serve to highlight the impact Frédéric Chopin has made on artists such as Muse!

The Nocturnes Op 9 are a set of three nocturnes written by Frédéric Chopin. Chopin wrote this particular nocturne at the age of 20! Nocturne Opus 9, No. 2 has a time signature of 12/8 meaning that there are 12 quaver beats per bar. The nocturne opens with a legato melody. Chopin’s Nocturne Opus 9, No.2’s song structure is a rounded binary form with coda. In music, the binary form consists of two sections, A and B. Section A is often played with variation and is normally rounded off with a part from section A. This is known as rounded binary form. However section B is usually played longer then section A and is often in a different key. It is usually in the dominant key or in the relative major keys in case of minor keys. As sections A and B re-occur they become more expressive and beautiful.

Chopin’s piano playing is undeniably gorgeous because of the way he expressed the notes when he played. The nocturne is reflective in mood until it suddenly becomes passionate near the end. The new melody that concludes the nocturne begins softly then ascends to a high register and is forcefully played in octaves eventually reaching the loudest part of the piece (fortissimo). After a brilliant trill-like passage, the excitement subsides and the nocturne ends calmly.

Nocturne Opus 9 No. 2 in E Flat Major is one of the most famous pieces by Frédéric Chopin. By looking at the complexity of this composition you are able to admire and acknowledge why Chopin was one of the greatest composers of his time. Chopin was innovative and he was definitely a composer that ‘wrote poems on the piano’.