Listening+Examples

= Enhanced Listening Examples =

Listening Part 1 - Form/Theme:
View the enhanced listening example of Nocturne in Eb Major, Op. 9, No. 2 by Fredric Chopin below.

During this first listening, notice how the composer uses primarily 4 bar (measure) phrases. There are three separate melodies (A, B, & C). Each time these melodies in the right hand (top staff) repeat, they are embellished. However, the harmony in the left hand (bottom staff) stays essentially the same.

Also notice the form of the piece: media type="youtube" key="KOljZcgaZt4?hl=en" height="349" width="425"
 * Section ||  ||
 * A || main melody ||
 * A´ || main melody embellished ||
 * B || contrasting melody ||
 * A´´ || main melody with more embellishment ||
 * B´ || contrasting melody embellished ||
 * A´´´ || final statement of the main melody ||
 * C || concluding melody ||
 * C´ || concluding melody modified ||
 * cadenza || virtuosic passage ||
 * coda || conclusion ||

Listening Part 2 - Rhythm/Time:
View the second enhanced listening example of Nocturne in Eb Major, Op. 9, No. 2 by Fredric Chopin below (still under development).

During this listening, notice how the composer expands beyond the limitations of standard music notation to convey to the performer how the time and tempo show push and pull.

Chopin uses terms such as: //espressivo dolce// (expressively sweet) //poco ritardando// (slowing down a little) //poco rallentando// (broadening of tempo a little) //poco rubato// (literally robbed; a little flexible in tempo)

Chopin also uses different rhythms on each melodic embellishment to express a different feeling of time and tempo.

Listening Part 3 - Interpretation:
Listen to the (audio-only) listening example of Nocturne in Eb Major, Op. 9, No. 2 by Fredric Chopin below (still under development). This is an older performance that uses much more rubato (flexible tempo) than the newer version used in the first two examples.

Listening Part 1 - Form/Theme:
media type="youtube" key="3tahIgUosVM" height="344" width="425"