This week’s video presents Nocturne in E-flat major, H 24 by Irish pianist and composer John Field. Field was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1782. He was taught early on by Italian composer Tommaso Giordani. Following his family’s move to London, Field studied under Muzio Clementi, and eventually became a well-known and often sought-after concert pianist. John Field’s performances and compositions influenced many major composers including Frederic Chopin, Johannes Brahms, Robert Schumann and Franz Liszt.
I’ve only recently discovered the music of John Field, and he has quickly become one of my favorite composers. Field is generally viewed as being the father of the Romantic nocturne. The familiar form of a single movement character piece features cantabile melody over an arpeggiated accompaniment.
This video, along with all of my piano performance videos, is dedicated to the memory of my father, Les Buege, who passed away on January 12, 2022.
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