Frédéric Chopin
Nocturne 18
in E Major, Op. 62 No. 2
Chopin's last Nocturne holds a world of meditative reflection, melancholy, agitation, and ultimately acceptance.
Year: 1846
Period: Early Romantic
Piano score: PS Urtext 
Audiovisual Study Tool
Nocturnal swan song
The Nocturne in E major Op. 62 no. 2 was written three years before Chopin’s death. In many ways, it seems to be Chopin’s swan song, holding a world of meditative reflection, melancholy, agitation, and ultimately acceptance, perhaps of what must have seemed an inevitable fate to Chopin, whose progressing illness had become serious at this stage.
Marked Lento, it begins with its melody meditating over a simple accompaniment, exploring its inner world with a longer thought here, a shorter inflection there, supported by increasingly creative harmonic progressions. A second theme over a rolling accompaniment in sixteenths is introduced, leading to the feverish middle section in c sharp minor, featuring the right and left hand in agitated dialogue through tightly woven counterpoint. When the initial theme returns, it is far from a verbatim repeat of the opening section but rather a continuing reflection with new progressions of both melody and harmony, leading to a return of the second theme, which brings the piece to its close. A last stanza ends the piece in absolute calm, in final, peaceful acceptance of both what has been, and what is to come.
Background
The Nocturnes Op. 62 were the final Nocturnes to be published in Chopin’s lifetime. They were written between 1845 and 1846 and published in 1846, three years before his death.Forum posts about this piece:
What to do about the RH in Chopin Op 62 no 2 by billym
Hi everyone, Happy Memorial Day! It's a habit of mine to be playing about 2 or 3 pieces outside of the ones my teacher and I are working on, so this past weekend I decided to try out Chopin's lovely...
What does it take to be able to play Chopin's nocturnes Op. 62? by hpiano
Hi everyone, I have been playing piano for 3.5 years. It didn't long before I became obsessed with the classics. It started with Chopin, and it grew from there when I heard other amazing...
Liebestraum and Nocturne by cheukyi520
I am going to take the AT examination in 2017 or 2018, but wondering if I should choose Liszt liebestraum no3 or Chopin nocturne op 62 no2. Which one is easier to handle or more suitable to be...
Chopin nocturne op 62 no 2 by lisztomaniac
HELP. The agitato part is hard to put hands together, I only had the piece for 3 days, but any suggestions are welcome
Help with Chopin Nocturne op.62 no.2! by gregwer
Pls I'm learning a Chopin nocturne op.62 no.2, i'm on the [i]agitato[/i] part(bars 40-57) but i don't know how to play the Left Hand part, in some parts there are very hard chords, my question is...
chopin op 62 no 2 by nadonguri
I have difficulty playing bar 4, 5, 8, and 9 right. I've recently listened to Rafal Blechaz's version on Youtube. It's just amazing how he plays it so graciously. Can anyone give me some tips how...
Suitable Chopin Nocturne to accompany Op 62 no 2 ? by dreamaurora
Hi, I am taking mi diploma exam this year and I need to learn one more Chopin Nocturne to accompany the op 62 no 2 I have been learning. I need one that can provide a nice contrast to the angst-ridden...
Members who like this piece have also downloaded:
Nocturne Op. 62 No. 2 in E Major, a composition by the early romantic composer Frédéric Chopin who was born in 1810 and died in 1849. The piano score of this piece was first published in 1846 and is part of Chopin's Nocturnes.