nocturne /ˈnɒktəːn/ - noun: (in music) a short composition of a romantic nature, typically for piano; (in art) a picture of a night scene

Perhaps one of the most iconic works from the Romantic period, Frederic Chopin’s Nocturne Op 9, No 2 has proven its timelessness ever since its conception. When the first note sounds, it’s impossible not to recognise it and, perhaps, squint in recollection, thinking to yourself, “Hey, haven’t I heard this before?” Nobody can deny the impact it has had on pop culture and music fans all over the world.

The utter romantic nature of this opus or “work” is clear from the start, evident by the 12/8 rhythm, which is reminiscent of a slow, elegant waltz. The melody transports you to serene vistas of lakes, or as you dance under the glow of a silvery moon.

However, the primary theme, interspersed with melancholic chromatic phrases, varies slightly with each iteration, leaving you to wonder, “What changed? And why?” Why is there such a prevalent ambiguity? It is exceptionally wrought with increasing tension, infusing a sense of doubt in the listeners, begging them to ask the question: what will happen next?

When the coda section arrives, it is the piece’s turning point, as this once-serene Nocturne dons a dark somber tone. At the same time, the gentle crescendos foreshadow something more to come.

Then, alas, the climax. These concluding moments of Nocturne Op 9, No 2 are brief and terse, aggressive and bombastic. An ardent revelation on the unpredictability of night: how it may be beautiful and serene one minute and completely crazy and tumultuous the next. Then, just before the conclusion, we reach the state of falling action. Literally. A phrase with rotational symmetry, conveying the concept of the never-ending cycle of night, before it is interrupted as the notes relax into a softer and sweeter tone, similar to the opening lines, reminding us that there is still hope despite the turmoil and unpredictability.