A nocturne in B major that breaks off into a recitative and ends in B minor.
65 bars4/4Andante sostenuto5-page PDFLevel 4 of 8
Or every piece, now and later: Lifetime, $199
Form
A themeA′ theme again, variedB on the dominantC G♯ minor over a D♯ pedalT chain of dominants back to BB′ B againC′ C againT′ T againCoda B minor
Opening, bars 1–4 · B major
Section by section
A (1–12): the theme
Bars 1–4 swing between I and V. Bar 5 moves through B⁷ and A♯⁷ to D♯ minor, and bar 7 ends the phrase with E minor (iv), borrowed from B minor, and V⁷.
B (20–30): on the dominant
Bars 21–24 rest on F♯ (V), with its own dominant, C♯⁷. From bar 25 the music passes through D♯ minor, A♯ minor and G♯ minor, each reached through its own dominant.
C (31–36): a pedal in G♯ minor
Chopin's bass holds D♯, the dominant of G♯ minor, for four bars and never lands on G♯. Bar 35 turns back to B major.
T (37–40): back to B
G♯⁷, C♯⁷, F♯⁷, B: each chord is the dominant of the next. Bars 41–61 repeat bars 20–40.
Coda (62–65): why it ends in B minor
Bar 62 holds a German sixth (G, B, D, E♯), then a unison recitative runs in B minor. The last chords are E minor and B minor: the same borrowed E minor heard in all four phrase endings.
The PDF includes a full page of analysis.
