Chopin Nocturnes | 21 best piano songs of all time

These Chopin compositions are among the best piano songs of all time, what is your favorite Nocturne? If you’ve made it this far, I think you know it’s a great experience to listen to Chopin’s nocturnals and enjoy their wonderful music. It is a moment full of emotions and feelings where you can see the genius of this great pianist.

If you are looking for the best piano songs of all time, get ready for a beautiful trip here, you will be amazed by some of the most beautiful and popular piano pieces in the history of music.

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When we listen to the 21 nocturnes it is possible to follow the musical trajectory of the great Polish composer and pianist. In the first pieces for piano we can see the influence of the Irish John Field (1782-1837). But then his music becomes unique, acquiring harmonious and melodic traits of incomparable beauty. When we listen to the nocturnal ones we can perceive and appreciate the pure musical poetry taken from the notes of these beautiful piano songs.

All the great pianists recognize the genius of Chopin, many are notable interpreters of the nocturnes. Just to remind some of these pianists we can highlight: Arthur Rubinstein, Martha Argerich, Krystian Zimerman, Maria João Pires, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Sviatoslav Richter, Maurizio Pollini, Alfred Cortot, Dinu Lipatti, George Cziffra and many other pianists who love to play Chopin’s music.

 

 

Here you will find this incredible collection of solo piano music (Chopin Nocturnes). 21 of the most amazing piano songs ever composed. Enjoy the wonderful art of Frédéric Chopin, one of the greatest pianists the world has ever seen.

Just as the name says these are piano pieces inspired by the night, you can watch videos and enjoy Chopin’s Nocturnes here. Read the brief description of each piece and feel free to listen to this beautiful piano music.

So for you what are the best piano songs of all time? Let me know in the comments for this post.

 

The Best Piano Songs (Chopin nocturnes)

1. Nocturne Op. 9, No. 1 in B flat minor. Larghetto
2. Nocturne Op. 9, No. 2 in E flat major. Andante
3. Nocturne Op. 9, No. 3 in B major. Allegretto
4. Nocturne Op. 15, No. 1 in F major. Andante cantabile
5. Nocturne Op. 15, No. 2 in F sharp major. Larghetto
6. Nocturne Op. 15, No. 3 in G minor. Lento
7. Nocturne Op. 27, No. 1 in C sharp minor. Larghetto
8. Nocturne Op. 27, No. 2 in D flat major. Lento sostenuto
9. Nocturne Op. 32, No. 1 in B major. Andante sostenuto
10. Nocturne Op. 32, No. 2 in A flat major. Lento
11. Nocturne Op. 37, No. 1 in G minor. Lento
12. Nocturne Op. 37, No. 2 in G major. Andante
13. Nocturne Op. 48, No. 1 in C minor. Lento
14. Nocturne Op. 48, No. 2 in F sharp minor. Andantino
15. Nocturne Op. 55, No. 1 in F minor. Andante
16. Nocturne Op. 55, No. 2 in E flat major. Lento sostenuto
17. Nocturne Op. 62, No. 1 in B major. Andante
18. Nocturne Op. 62, No. 2 in E major. Lento
19. Nocturne Op. 72, No. 1 in E minor. Andante
20. Nocturne Op. posth in C sharp minor. Lento con gran espressione
21. Nocturne Op. posth in C minor. Andante sostenuto

 

1. Nocturne in B flat minor, Op. 9 no. 1 – Larghetto

Chopin starts his collection of nocturnes with this charming piece for piano, we can hear in its soft melodic lines many scales and beautifully executed arpeggios. Chopin’s evening was dedicated to Marie Pleyel, wife of pianist Camille Playel.

2. Nocturne in E flat major, Op. 9 no. 2 – Andante

This Nocturne is as impressive as the previous one, as it is both sensual and dramatic, melancholy and adorable. The nocturne in E flat major, Op.9, No.2 is certainly one of the most famous piano pieces of all time. This beautiful melody takes us to a moment of deep inspiration and romanticism where art takes us back to the times when this great pianist lived. It’s really nice to be able to hear this beautiful night that for many is Chopin’s best song.

3. Nocturne in B major, Op. 9 No. 3 – Allegretto

Here we have another wonderful nocturne by Chopin. This composition presents us with a simple and very beautiful melody. The pianist calmly slides his fingers over the piano notes very smoothly in an incredibly beautiful virtuosity.

4. Nocturne in F major, Op. 15 No. 1 – Andante cantabile

Here we have a piano played initially in a smooth and pleasant way, but also some moments where the piano chords are performed with drama and force.

5. Nocturne in F sharp major, Op. 15 No. 2 – Larghetto

It is a beautiful piano music very calm without major storms. We can hear the musical notes that express the purest romanticism contained in Chopin’s music, I hope you enjoy this work.

6. Nocturne in G minor, Op. 15 No. 3 – Lento

It is really impressive how Chopin was able to compose a number of incredibly wonderful melodies. His creativity and technique for composing and playing the piano was really remarkable. In this nocturne we have some ornamentation and the use of chromatic modulations of chords.

7. Nocturne in C sharp minor, Op. 27 No. 1 – Larghetto

This is a piano song that shows us an atmosphere of dark sadness. One of the favorite nocturnes of many pianists. The piano keys played softly in a minor key, expressing all the sadness of this beautiful piano song.

8. Nocturne in D flat major, Op. 27 No. 2 – Lento sostenuto

Another of Chopin’s famous piano pieces performed in the tone of D flat major, an exquisite and captivating piece of ornamentation. An advanced technique is required to achieve a perfect execution of this classical piano piece. Often heard in the concert hall, here Chopin presents a performance full of Fridays and Tuesdays in beautifully elaborate arrangements.

However, it is a lovely and harmonically very interesting melody. A curious mark, usually forgotten by pianists, is the crescendo and the con Forza of cadence. This is obviously wrong. The theme, which occurs three times, must first be piano, then pianíssimo and, finally, strong. This work is dedicated to Comtesse d’Appony and is recognized as one of the best piano songs by the great Polish artist.

9. Nocturne in B major, Op. 32 No. 1 – Andante sostenuto

Here we have a very sentimental piano song that expresses a moment of poetic solitude. A piano piece with peaceful and very reflective harmony.

10. Nocturne in A flat major, Op. 32 No. 2 – Lento

We find here many melodic contours that make this nocturnal piece a little different reminiscent of Liszt’s romanticism, the way in which the cadence is resolved resembles the great Hungarian friend and pianist.

11. Nocturne in G minor, Op. 37 No. 1 – Lento

This piece by Chopin has a beautiful harmony and a rhythmic rhythm is considered one of the easiest nocturne for those who want to learn to play Chopin’s music. It is one of the favorite piano songs of many pianists, the work has a simple but very beautiful melodic beauty.

12. Nocturne in G major, Op. 37 No. 2 – Andante

This classic piano piece begins with a slightly accelerated rhythm with some notes that express a melodic joy very characteristic of Chopin’s music, it is a little difficult to describe the beauty of this piece. It is a true masterpiece full of feeling and a certain atmosphere of meditation. The English composer Elgar was inspired by this nocturne in his symphonic poem Polonia, a tribute to the country of Chopin.

13. Nocturne in C minor, Op. 48 No. 1 – Lento

This noble piano piece reminds us of the imposing Ballads of Chopin, the way piano chords are performed in slow tempo expresses a sad but incredibly beautiful harmony, it is really something exceptional and grand in the way the piano notes lead to a moment of deep reflection.

14. Nocturne in F sharp minor, Op. 48 No. 2 – Andantino

Here we find a feeling of longing and anguish, the harmony of this piece has a unique contrast, a dramatic and somewhat recitative melody that will delight many listeners.

15. Nocturne in F minor, Op. 55, No. 1 – Andante

This piano song has a soft melody full of beautiful piano chords that take us to moments of melancholy and pure reflection. This is one of Chopin’s best Nocturnes.

16. Nocturne in E flat major, Op. 55 No. 2 – Lento sostenuto

Chopin expresses a song of melodic harmony a little different from the other nocturnes. Like all the other compositions of this great piano artist, this is a little performed piece in the great concert halls, but it is an equally beautiful work.

17. Nocturne in B major, Op. 62 No. 1 – Andante

This piano piece is incredibly meditative, its score shows us a slow rhythm of low chords, nostalgic music that presents a feeling of great peace.

18. Nocturne in E major, Op. 62 No. 2 – Lento

This is a piece that while maintaining that common characteristic of some melancholy, nevertheless conveys a certain peace, a beautiful piano song absolutely incredible.

19. Nocturne in E minor, Op. 72 No. 1 – Andante

This piece was composed in 1827, when Chopin was seventeen years old. The unique melodic line has an arpeggio and ornate accompaniment with trills and notes played on a smaller scale, a simple melodic piece but masterfully beautiful.

20. Nocturne posth in C sharp minor – Lento con gran espressione

Nocturne nº 20 uses themes from the concert in F Menor (Op. 21). It was composed in 1830 and published in 1875. Interestingly, it is one of the Nocturne that has a transcript for Violin and is one of the most famous classical piano pieces, it became very popular after the success of the film The Pianist.

21. Nocturne posth in C minor – Andante sostenuto

This must be one of Chopin’s easiest piano pieces. Recommended for intermediate level pianists to start their advanced piano study. Let’s listen:

I just introduced you to Frederic Chopin’s 21 piano Nocturnes. Are you ready to meet other works by Chopin and other classical music composers?

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You may also like other Chopin pieces:

The 5 Most Insane Piano Pieces by F.Chopin
24 preludes Op.28
Etude op.10 no.3 “Tristesse”
Funeral March
Scherzo No. 2 in B flat minor Op. 31
Ballade No. 4 In F Minor, Op. 52
Fantaisie Impromptu
Etude Op. 25 No. 4 in A minor “Paganini”