Chopin, 3 Nocturnes, Op 9

Chopin bunched his first three nocturnes in Opus 9. They were probably composed around 1831, and published two years later, in Paris. However, these are not his first compositions in the style of the form created by Dubliner John Field – that "precious but empty frame" according to the pianist and musicologist Alfred Cortot – to which Chopin will add soul, heart and life. Before 1831, he had already composed a few but they were not published until after his death, when his friend and factotum Julian Fontana ignored the solemn request for throwing them into the fire, thus entering the catalog in the "opus posthumous" category.

Pleyel, a real friend
So, the nocturnes of opus 9 were only the first to be published. They are dedicated "to Mrs Pleyel". It is understood that she is the renowned pianist and wife of Camille Pleyel, the great pianist and piano maker, a Chopin's friend. Pleyel was the one who would send Chopin a "pianino" to neither more nor less than Mallorca, so that Frédérik could overcome the inclement weather and mood during the unfortunate stay in Valldemosa, in the company of George Sand and her children, the winter of 1838-39.

Camille Pleyel (1788 - 1855)

It was not the first time that Camille Pleyel had given Chopin
a piano. Arrived in Paris just a year ago and little more, Frédérik had moved into his second residence in Paris and was installed in a two-story little house at 4 rue Cité Bergère. For the great hall (it's a saying because it was not very spacious), friend Pleyel provided a grand concert piano. And for the bedroom, a black pianino. The two rooms were connected so that if the talent of one of his students unleashed Frédérik's enthusiasm, he could accompany him from the other piano.

The dedication of the complete opus to "Mrs Pleyel", three nocturnes, the first to be published, will have been enough a token of gratitude on the part of the noble Frédérik, we imagine.

The rendition is by Jan Lisiecki, from Canada (the video contains the three preludes, in spite of the title).

00:05  No 1, in B-flat minor

05:27  No 2, in E-flat major

09:38  No 3, in B major