Frédéric Chopin
Nocturne 21
in C Minor, B. 108

Strikingly simple in both melodic and harmonic terms, this Nocturne tells its tale in a near improvisatory fashion over a steady accompaniment.

ID: 1828
Frédéric Chopin - Nocturnes:

Nocturne 21
Op. posth. B. 108

Key: C Minor
Year: 1848
Level: 7
Period: Early Romantic
Nocturne 21 Op. posth. B. 108 in C Minor by Chopin piano sheet music
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Folk-like simplicity

The 21st Nocturne is strikingly simple in both melodic and harmonic terms. Its melancholic and almost folk-like melody tells its tale in a near improvisatory fashion over a steady, ever-present accompaniment. Through the journey, Chopin explores a few melodic motifs, often decorated with his trusty fioritura figurations, but rarely straying from the character established by the opening theme. The piece ends quietly on the minor tonic – one of the few Nocturnes to do so, the others being the Nocturne in B major Op. 32 no. 1 and the Nocturne in C minor Op. 48 no. 1.

Background

Chopin’s 21:st Nocturne was published posthumously in 1860 as a part of “4 Piéces pour piano” by Charlotte de Rothschild (1825–1899), and was first published under Chopin’s name in 1938. Sources disagree on when it was written, some stating 1847-1848, and others 1837.


Forum posts about this piece:

Chopin’s last Nocturne by tinctoria88
Does anyone know the currently agreed on compositional date of Chopin’s last Nocturne?  I’ve found 1848 and 1837 referring to the Nocturne in C minor.  That’s a big gap of years dating that...

Chopin Nocturne in c sharp minor Op. Posth no 20 by madsfr1234
Hi, my name is Mads :D I am 12 years old, and have been playing the piano in about one year. I live in Danmark :d Yesterday i got the Chopin Nocturne No. 20 Op. Posth in c sharp minor. I...

Chopin Nocturne in C minor, posthumous by dorjuanhoop
    I'm learning Chopin's Nocturne in C minor, posthumous.  I think it's sometimes referred to as No. 20 and sometimes No. 21.  I'm about halfway through and things are going very well,...


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Early Romantic piano sheet music by Frédéric Chopin to download and print instantly: Nocturne Op. posth. in the key of . Level 7, compositional type: Piece (published in 1848)
Nocturne in C Minor, Op. posth. by the composer Frédéric Chopin who lived from 1810 to 1849.
The piece was published in 1848 and is included in Chopin's Nocturnes.