Frédéric Chopin
Nocturne 20
in C-sharp Minor, B. 49
The unique, nostalgic mood of this Nocturne apparently makes it able to melt the most hardened hearts - there is a famous story that the pianist Natalia Karp’s life was spared as a direct result of playing this Nocturne in the concentration camp where she was a prisoner during World War II.
Year: 1830
Period: Early Romantic
Piano score: PS Urtext 
Audiovisual Study Tool
"Reminiscence"
Chopin's 20th Nocturne, sometimes also called “Reminiscence,” was only published two decades after the composer died. The pervading mood is incredibly sad, but there are hints of hope or perhaps happy memories in a ppp-episode in the middle section, and in the very touching shift to C-sharp major at the very end. The technical fireworks are minimized in this piece, but the player needs to have a keen sense of rhythm and pulse. The melodic line incorporates great bunches of notes called “lets.” Duplets, triplets, and quintuplets are three examples, but Chopin even uses a “35-let!”Background
Chopin dedicated this Nocturne to his sister as a “warmup” to learning his second piano concerto. He borrowed themes from that concerto when composing this piece. The piece is famous for being a life-saver during World War II - it was played by Holocaust survivor Natalia Karp for the Nazi concentration camp commandant Amon Goeth, and it was what Wladyslaw Szpilman played for Wilhelm Hosenfeld to inspire him to save him during Spilman’s isolation in Warsaw.Forum posts about this piece:
Chopin - Nocturne 72-1 fingering by pakkun
Hello ! I just finished the C-sharp minor "lento con gran espressione" Nocturne ! While I polish it I am starting the Nocturne op.72 n.1. The right hand is quite simple, but I'd like to ask your...
Chopin - Nocturne C-sharp minor fingering by pakkun
Hello ! I am currently studying the C sharp minor "Lento con gran espressione" and I'd like to ask for an advice about the following bars with double notes : what fingering do you suggest to play...
What is my next piece should be ? by mohammad2002
Hi Everyone, I have recently done working on Chopin Nocturne No.20 in C# Minor, I feel like I didn't struggle much with the piece even the scales at the end of the piece wasn't that hard for...
Choosing Between My Passion for Piano and Academic Success: Need Advice for Univ by erdishahini
Hey, people! I find myself in a tough position and would greatly appreciate your opinions and advice. Let me provide some context: I live in North Macedonia and began playing the piano at...
How much fingering change is too much fingering change? by ncovkilledmypractice
I am having trouble with the left hand of Chopin's Nocturne no. 20, and for some reason I try to legato the first and second note of every chord pattern which results in uneven timing. As an...
Help! I'm struggling to find a summer music program! by chopinonions
I am currently struggling to find a music program that is around my skill level. I have 13 years of experience in classical music (solo, no chamber). Currently my completed repertoire is Mozart 545 sonata in C...
Broken metacarpal bone by back_in_black
Hi, I am 22 years old and I am playing piano since childhood, but I've been training for 2 years so that you can understand my level of piano playing, probably the most difficult one that I play is...
Improving as a pianist by simply_piano
Hi all, I have been playing the piano for over 13 years now, and have recently completed my grade 8 ABRSM piano. Examples of repertoire; Chopin; Nocturne No. 20 in C# Minor Nocturne...
What should I learn next? by alvaritooo13
Hi there! About a month ago I finished the Nocturne in C# Minor by Chopin as well as the Waltz in A minor and the Valse d'Amelie and I was wondering what to play next. I want something harder enough to...
What etudes should I play? by mistralx
Hi guys, I would like to ask you for some advices about etudes. Currently I am working on: Debbusy's Arabesque no. 1 Chopin's nocturne in C-sharp minor op. posth
Chopin's Nocturne in c-sharp minor - what to improve? by mistralx
Hello guys! I am currently working on the mentioned Chopin's nocturne and would like to ask you for advices. I recorded just a first part of it, the second will be added in the near future :)
treatment of scale in bar 59 of Chopin's Nocturne in C sharp minor, op post. by kalairajah
Can someone advice on how best to play the scale in bar 59? Do you play this evenly or do u slow down on the way up and accelerate on the way down?
How to get a better time administration? by faa2010
Before June, I need to get the next pieces: - 4 songs of Bartok For children. - Haydn Sonata XVI no 17 (at least the first 2 movements) - Chopin Nocturne C sharp minor - Gavote of...
How to play escales faster? by chechig
Hi everyone. I'm having a bit of a problem learning the Nocturne n 20 in C sharp minor by Chopin. The problem is the last big escale in measure 59. My teachers advices are not working, I sound really...
Help with technique and tension issues? by cyray7
I have been learning to play piano for a while now but I've been having a lot of problems lately continuing to make progress. I can't afford a teacher right now so it is hard for me to get good...
Introducing myself by lb023
Dear people of this forum, My name is Laurens, I am a 23 year old law student living in the Netherlands. I have been visiting this forum quite some times, so I decided it was about time to make an...
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Nocturne Op. posth. in C-sharp Minor, 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 1830 and is part of Chopin's Nocturnes.