Nocturnas

Nocturnas are nocturnes, a class of musical pieces named to evoke the night. The term nocturne comes from the French nocturne, itself from Latin nocturnus meaning of the night; in some languages, nocturnas is the common plural form when referring to such works.

Origin and development: The nocturne form was developed in the early 19th century, with John Field (1782–1837) often credited as its inventor. Field’s piano pieces established the characteristic mood and style of a lyrical, intimate night piece. The style was expanded and popularized by Frédéric Chopin, who wrote twenty-one nocturnes that became central to the Romantic piano repertoire.

Musical characteristics: Nocturnas are typically written for solo piano and feature a singing, cantabile melodic line over a calm, continuous accompaniment, often with arpeggiated or broken-chord figures in the left hand. They are usually lyrical and expressive, with flexible tempo (rubato) and a mood that ranges from tranquil to inwardly intense. Formal structures vary, commonly including ternary forms or extended song-like contours.

Influence and later usage: The nocturne influenced later Romantic and modern composers, and related works appeared in different media. Debussy’s Nocturnes for orchestra, while not piano solos, adopt a nocturnal atmosphere and title that nods to the earlier genre. In general, nocturnas continue to be associated with nocturnal mood, lyricism, and refined piano texture.

See also: Nocturne (music).