Frédéric Chopin
Scherzo 2
in B-flat Minor, Op. 31
The most well-known of Chopin's four Scherzi has one of his most mysterious openings, and one of his most tumultous codas.
Year: 1837
Period: Early Romantic
Piano score: PS Urtext 
Audiovisual Study Tool
Conversation with the dead..?
Chopin's Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor is especially notable for its sotto voce opening that seems to represent a kind of question and answer. Chopin himself used the piece in his teaching and admonished his pupils to play the first measures in a manner that evoked the image of a mortuary. The mysterious opening motif, so short and quiet that it's almost inaudible, is followed by a very loud, majestic statement. This exchange happens numerous times before we get to the vibrant flowing melody that is repeated with variation throughout the piece.In the B section, things become quieter and more contemplative. It is almost as if the original "questioning" voice were returning to speak at a greater length, which it does with increasing confidence, making more and more emphatic statements before leading back to the return of the opening section and on to the magnificent coda. This is indeed a fascinating piece, demanding brilliance, lyricism as well as a keen sense of dramatic structure.
Background
In the mid-1830s Chopin arrived at a new, mature style exemplified by the the concentrated drama of the second Scherzo and the deep-felt lyricism of the Nocturnes, Op. 27. The B-flat minor Scherzo was hailed as a masterpiece, outshining even the first Scherzo in B minor, which had already been ever-present on concert platforms. Critics heard ‘demonic accents’, likened it to Byron's poems and Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, and admired the ‘long ribbon of melody sung on a single breath’ (Zdzislaw Jachimecki)Forum posts about this piece:
Scherzo2 vs Revolutionary Etude by shidaniel77
Working on scherzo no2 just wondering which is harder Chopin’s Revolutionary or his scherzo no2. Length of piece, dynamics, phrasing, technicality,...
Tips for practicing Chopin - Scherzo No.2 in B flat Minor by lucasejp
Can anyone give me a bit by bit breakthrough of the second scherzo and how to tackle each part individually? Particularly with the arpegiaic...
Chopin Heroic Polonaise vs B flat minor scherzo? Are they possible by lucasejp
Kind of a follow-up to my previous post. I am at a technical level above ABRSM and very motivated to practice. Are Chopin's Bb minor scherzo or Heroic Polonaise possible to learn? Or should I learn one...
Can i pull off Chopin's Scherzo no 2 as a beginner/intermediate by aleksej
For context, i have started playing piano normally a year ago, i knew how to play piano but not the technical stuff, used to to play Pop etc. last year i got hooked on piano. i've played Chopins...
Any info on this particular rhythm in Chopin? by lelle
I've been working a bit on the 2nd and 3rd Scherzos by Chopin, and I noticed that they both feature a particular rhythm: dotted quarter note, eighth note, quarter note. This rhythm is also heavily featured...
Piano Repertoire by reejoule305
Hey! I am a 20-year old pianist from India. I am currently in my third year of my diploma in music, and this year we need to choose a theme for our final recital, which is about 30 minutes long. I have...
Junior recital rep by nathan1234
I just got approved for a recital in the fall and I can’t think of another piece or two to balance out the rep. My professor always lets me pick the music so he doesn’t really offer any help in that...
Chopin Scherzo #2: fingering challenge by noam1
Hello folks! I'm struggling with the best fingering for the attached section of the Chopin Scherzo #2. This is toward the end of the piece, when the original theme reprises, and...
Leggiero Section in Chopin's Scherzo No. 2 Help by yechanee
Hello, I'm currently learning Chopin's Scherzo No. 2 and I need some help on the Leggiero section; especially situations where you have to go from the thumb to the 4th finger. I've marked it in...
Few classical midi pieces by berni22
Few pieces from classical...
Masterpiece by elis_piano
Hello again! If you can help me, do it, otherwise do not make any ironical comments. It will be appreciarted. So, here we are again, I have to choose one Romantic BIG WORK for the final exams...
Chopin's Scherzo no. 2 or Ballade no 2? by yechanee
Teacher gave me either one to play, but I'm having trouble which one. Can you guys help me choose which one I should learn? Technically either piece is doable for me but just need help in deciding due to...
Am I ready for Chopin Scherzo Op.31 No.2??? by pianonewbie2002
Hi guys I'm 14 and comes from Vietnam (this is my first post on this forum, so sorry for bad English :D). I'm having trouble with deciding the next piece to add to my repertoire. I...
question on ravel a minor trio difficulty by kiirankumarr
hi, I'm interested in learning a single movement of Ravel's a minor trio- I'm currently finishing Chopin's b flat scherzo and have finished Brahms b minor rhapsody and Beethoven's op 1...
An all Chopin recital? by piulento
Hi there! :) So as some of you know, I recently finished my service in the army, and right now I'm sort of just looking for some new goals to reach - something to give my life some structure...
Frustrated with Chopin's 2nd Scherzo Op. 31 by chomaninoff1
So I have been playing Chopin's Op. 31 Scherzo for the last 3 maybe 4 months. Going into this piece, I knew that it was a bit over my level, but I decided I wanted to play it anyway because I love...
Where to go next? by ingham444
Hi, Six months ago - ended a year long debussy spree in which I completed most of his major works Since - have played Chopins scherzo 2, a few nocturnes, the ocean etude and liszts La Campanella
Scherzo no. 2 op. 31 Chopin HELP! by chopinconnoisseur101
Hello, I am a new user of piano street. Currently, my project piece is Frederic Chopin's second scherzo. I am wondering how I can ply the left hand much more rapidly and fluently in measures 50-60 in the...
ABRSM compared to other exams by poiuytrewq11zc
In the state of New York, we have something called NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association.) It's very popular in Long Island and upstate. However, in Manhatten, ABRSM is the exam that most people...
Chopin - Scherzo no. 2: Am I ready to play it? by edubia
I have just finished Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody no. 2. It's nowhere near "concert quality", but it sounds decent. I've looked through the Scherzo and played through the first page....
Chopin's Scherzo No.2 or Ballade No.3 by pocho
I need some help trying to choose between these 2. I wish I could play both, but I can only learn one. Which do you guys think I should...
Widmung vs. Scherzo No.2 by sevten
I have an upcoming recital in six months and I have narrowed it down to two pieces: Schumann/Liszt - Widmung Chopin - Scherzo No.2 What do you think are the pros and cons of each...
Scherzo2 Chopin question by optima
i just wanted to ask you: the second time we return to Bb minor (after the A major section), how do you play those arpeggios? Is it wrong to begin from the upper note to the last ? or is it better...
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Scherzo 2 Op. 31 in B-flat Minor, a composition by the early romantic composer Frédéric Chopin who was born in 1810 and died in 1849. It was composed during the Early Romantic period and is part of Chopin's Scherzi.