I wish I could forget this piece and have the chance of listen to it for the first time, in this day I would fall in love for the Piano one more time...

Thank you for sharing this deep, profound lesson which was so complete and touching. I am 54 right now, and I wonder what I would have done with piano if I had the possibility of hearing such masterclasses on KZfaq when I was 14. It's like going to conservatory without having attended it. It's so lucky for all of us and for humanity itself that you and many other great artists, men and musicians, are willing to share your knowledge and emotions with us. We all grow together. Thanks a lot!

I cannot stop crying when I listen to this piece of music, specially if interpreted with such a passion. Not everyone can play it well

to me, you are the greatest music teacher Mr.Niemczuk. Thank you so so much for the music, teaching, storytelling, and motivation!! One of the greatest emotional achievements of piano music and technique.

Thank you so much for these lectures! I am 16 years old and Chopin is one the most important things in my life. This is my favorite nocturne and I desperately want to play it well, the way Chopin intended and your video helps so much! 💜

It seems fate has brought me to this piece. I wanted to learn Op15 No. 3, but I accidentally downloaded the score for Op 48 No.1 and started playing it. Hey, I thought, this is not the piece I am looking for, but it sounds amazing and I have definitely heard it before. A very iconic piece. I felt compelled to keep learning and within a couple of days learned to play the introduction (the first 2 pages in my edition). It's definitely one of the most satisfying pieces of music I have ever had the pleasure to play. As Greg said "it comes straight from the composers soul". Probably I lack the pianistic skill to learn the whole piece, but the introduction is quite enough for me. I am in heaven.

when I listen to this piece, I imagine someone whose heart has been broken, standing behind the railing of a bridge, ready to jump. Suddenly, he starts to recall good memories, and then wonder if life could be worth living after all. but he realizes that in every moment of joy he recalls hides the overwhelming presence of the loved one, wich now gives all those happy memories a bitter taste, constantly reminding what was lost. This realization turns his dispair into anger, frustration and finally determination. And enventually, the helpless lover end up jumping...

The fight between light and evil... This is so accurate! It gave me goosebumps! 😱

Each time when i listen this Nocturno in fantastic interpretation of Alexei Sultanov, I'm so excited in a such indescribable way. So much tension and like something want to explode. Thank you very much for your interesting analysys of this beautiful Chopin's Nocturno!

I love the way you describe Chopin’s music, I feel that you share his artistry in such wonderful words. I have recently begun teaching myself this piece, and the sheer weight of it makes it an especially emotional one for me.

Really interesting analysis. Playing the matching phrases of the first and third sections is an excellent idea, to show the parallels. You also play alternative ways the music could have been written (e.g. 7:52 and 18:14) which really helps me understand the music better. I don't think I've seen other people do this. I like the Wodzinska interpretation (though I'm not well read on Chopin's life) because this piece seems, to me, to express an unutterable loneliness. I imagine Chopin alone some night, sitting at a cafe overlooking the Seine, thinking of her marriage to someone else. For what it's worth, this is how I see it (timings are from this video): 42:20 - 42:38: I'm so lonely. 42:38 - 42:59: I'll be this lonely until I die. 42:59 - 43:40: Some fond memories of her. 43:40 - 44:15: Memories bring quiet tears. Second section starts with acceptance - it's for the best - she's happy - I'm managing. But the sorrow and grief well up with the interrupting octaves, and no matter how hard he tries to hold on to the thin serenity, it breaks down into an emotional crisis (46:01) and uncontrolled weeping (third section). In the coda (47:46), the notes going up are his hopes, escaping into the air, leaving him only with sorrow (47:56) Needless to say, this does not speak well of George Sand.

This was the piece that opened my previously closed heart to Chopin and was a portal for me into the world of classical music in general. It was like being plunged into the richest and most magnificent realm of intense and powerfully wide ranging emotion, deeper that anything I'd preciously experience listening to music, almost transcendent in fact, and I was determined to learn the piano in the hope of one day playing this nocturnten years on I now have a growing list of pieces I aspire to play but your superb, and beautifully articulated tutorial helped me understand why my soul felt/feels so connected to this particular piece and the doors it opened within me - to play it is still my ultimate goal , maybe one day I'll get there. Your concert performance was really wonderful ❤ I've only just discovered your channel , what a rich source of expertise and knowledge you are sharing, thank you so much.

Yes Greg. Absolutely right that it blows you from the first hearing. In the 50s I bought, a second hand 78 of. Rubinstein playing this nocturne and I’ve been hooked ever since. Unbelievably incredible composition which never fades with repeated listening.

Bravo Monsieur! Excellent! I love the drama and your interpretation inspires me to learn this piece. Your story about your lesson reminded me of the last lesson that I had where I left in tears never to return and I wish I had known what your friend had told you that you met on the street, I might have taken things a little differently. Needless to say, I have not had a lesson for two years because of that, it was very intimidating, everything that could be criticized was criticized, my tone, dynamics, articulation, time, my shoes…he criticize my shoes! I mean really! I left feeling like a bull in a china shop! The more lessons I had with him (I worked with him for about nine months) the worse I got, the more distracted I got and felt more and more worthless. We had one ongoing battle where he would never help me with any kind of technical difficulties he only wanted to do interpretations and I felt I couldn’t do the interpretations unless I could play the damn notes! The interpretations were just the icing on the cake, I wasn’t worried about that. And if all that was really complementary then I must be one hell of a pianist! Anyway I’m glad I’m not alone. 😂

Great lecture. I was especially moved because I came across this piece shortly after my own breakup and it really spoke to me during that time. It was the sound of my grief. I had no idea until now that it was written in a similar moment of Chopin's life. What a masterpiece.

GOAT nocturne from the whole universe by far.

It's like a volcano of a piece, isn't it? The smooth and terribly sad beginning, the beautiful chorale always makes me think of lying in the sun on a summer afternoon, dragging your fingers through glassy water , but THEN! The rumblings coming up through the ground... the emotions fighting to get up to the surface like lava. Then it erupts! Love your discussion points and love for the piece. Thank you!

As an early intermediate player, these videos are so fascinating to me and I always learn so much from them. Thank you so much sir for continuing to make these amazing videos.

It is awesome to listen to the music of my favorite composer by such a smart guy Hugs from Brazil Perfect video as always

Thank you for the analysis. This video was really helpful to understand the story behind this piece. I would say that if the doppio movimento part is a run, then the ending is just the pure tiredness of Chopin's. At least that is what I feel when I play the end of this Nocturne, tiredness and pain that is caused by something terrible that happened in the past. Greetings from Slovakia :)

This Nocturne is a close second after Ballade 1 for me. I think it radiates dignity through and through. Dignity in very difficult circumstances, when hope is gone, when your cause is lost, when the ship is sinking, standing broken, yet dignified against all the odds. As a real Gentleman/Lady, no screaming, no complaining, no visible tears. You can be ridiculed, you can be beaten and shunned. But what remains is your dignity till the very end. Picking up your speculation about Wodzinska, this fits even better. :) All that Frederic had left after he got refused by the Wodzinski family was his dignity. He had lost against a Skarbek which must have humbled him a lot, he was put into his place. So he walked off, humiliated, but carrying his head in dignity. Metaphorically spoken. I'm not hoping to play this precious gem of a piece any time soon (still practising op. 28/15 :D). But one can dream, and I really love the new perspectives I get from your analysis videos!

Your interpretation of this piece is beyond amazing. I truly feel like you captured the soul of Chopin in every moment of this video. Beautiful and wonderful as always Greg! I think I am going to binge all the Chopin videos you've uploaded ha

The performance at the end of the video was amazing! Thanks for sharing!

I have been working on this for about a month and a half and I find it sad and beautiful. Thank you for educating us on what was going on in Chopin's life. Whenever I begin practicing a new piece I'm always wondering what was going on in the mind and emotions of the composer. Since the death of my father it seems some of these nocturnes match that sense of sadness abd loss. Love your story too about your difficult piano lesson.

I wouldn't have quit the piano if I had the chance to watch your video when I was 12. And now being 46 year old I'm in love with chopin's music again. Thank u so much.

Here I am, again😮 on Jan 11, 2024 and here in Indiana we are expecting 12" of snow which will provide the perfect atmosphere for watching this awesome analysis video..Why? Because the music of Chopin is so moving and beautiful...But I can listen to Chopin on many different channels so why this one?..Because Greg's enthusiasm and understanding of Chopin's music is deep and articulates both in words and in playing in a way that seems to fit me like a puzzle piece...perfectly!😂

Love your passion for the piece. Taking each section and really diving into the thought, emotion & state of mind of Chopin, is very helpful for those of us trying to learn more than just the notes on the page. Many thanks and enjoyed your performance at the end. A+

I left this Nocturne a while back. But I come back to it with lots of pleasure. Your way of teaching music is fabulous. I always wanted to attend a music school. And, through your videos, dear Greg, I am realizing a dream. For me, it is not easy. I have to study little by little every day. So, the first page, for now, hands separatedly and then together. Yours explanations show me the way. Thank you dear Greg for helping me so much in music.

Aand finally, the best nocturne and personally my favorite of all of chopin's c minor pieces (Revolutionary, ocean...). Great analysis!

You have changed my approach to the first section by saying it is a March. The cording in the last section shows Chopin's genius. So rich and satisfying. Thanks for this lesson.

Thank you for sharing your personal story alongside your analysis of this nocturne. I’m not musician, and my acquaintance to Chopin is quite recent. I regret not having discovered this world long time ago. I have planned to watch all of your back numbers in your YT channel. Greetings from Norway

thank you for the lecture, as I currently don't have a professor to guide me and started to learn op 48 n 1 on my own.

Thank you Greg for your explanations concerning Nocturne N°1 from F. Chopin. I find it absolutedly wonderful to be able to learn this way. Thank you so much for giving us this Nocturne in concert in Japan. It is a beautiful gift.

I have been sitting here for 48 minutes and 22 seconds hanging on your words, that does not happen often, a stellar performance. It was fascinating and inspiring. Really a great lecture, one of those that you will remember forever, you are so passionate, it is contagious. Thanks a lot, but now I have to go practicing.

This video was randomly recommended to me and I'm glad I saw it! This is personally one of my favorite pieces because it really brings out that sense of tragedy and loss. With this piece, I've always imagined a narrative of someone like a dishonored warrior trying to redeem himself: the piece starting slowly with internal struggles over past failures, slowly working up the inspiration for one final battle in the middle section, and then going all out in a blaze of glory in the doppio movement where he finally redeems himself but also falls in the process, ending with - as you say - a sort of calm ascent up to the heavens. Very insightful analysis! I shared a lot of the same sentiments you presented while learning a whole lot more!

I semantically interpret this piece much differently, and I don't feel that it's depressing or evocative of evil at all. I agree the first part is expressing morbid statements, but that emotion comes mostly from the sad march, like you explained. It's C minor, but Chopin constantly plays on the ambiguity with E♭ major. The movement upward, and the flourishes suggest silver linings, before it drops to the bottom C and moving on, again not settling unambiguously on major or minor. Then the poco piu lento part - which no one seems to ever focus much on, but I think it's the most beautiful thing Chopin wrote and I tear up every time I hear it - it's blissful but also modulates upward towards something. I find it less "eternity in heaven" and more "pastoral" - hopeful of a bright future. When the aggressive triplets set in, I don't feel that it's a evil creeping in, but a newfound confidence in that hope, like an epiphany. What was a subtle build up suddenly flares up into a euphoric climax, asserting the "light" with as much force as one could muster. And as if there's nothing else to add after that, it unceremoniously returns to the originally morbid motif, but now there's life and energy. It's not euphoric, sure, but it's not so sad, dark, hopeless. It's back to reality, but the hope, the spirit, the spark - whatever you want to call it - remains. Eventually, we know an end is coming and it's difficult, but this is a fact of life. The last melody remembers the journey contentedly, with a little curiosity of what could come next... and then a simple, peaceful death.

Dear Greg, I thank you very much for the experience you offered us with this lecture. You are friendly taking us by hand helping us to discover the secret and subtle preciousness folded across the musical structure and texture of this masterpiece. Although joy and pain are dimensions we all share and are consecrated in this nocturne, often our daily grind makes us deaf and “unprepared” to reach that state of soul that allows us to be touched and healed by the poetry and beauty contained in great music like this. You are helping us to recenter with our Inner self to become able to be touched by the balsamic beauty of this music. I am mostly grateful and admire your artistry and generous spirit 🙏

I'm very thankful to you because you have taught me how to play Chopin's music in a way that now I can understand and feel his pieces the same way I feel my own emotions.

This is my favorite, too! Love your analysis. I can feel the pain in my heart.

This video is the most precious gem itself. Thank you tremendously.

I will meditate with the end. But it is like poetry. It evaporates in the sky.............Thank you dear Greg.

SO WONDERFUL AS ALWAYS AND IMPORTANT!!!!! Thank you for one of my favourite Chopin's Nocturnes in an excellent rendition and for your analysis/tutorial, your lesson will be helpful for many pianists (I watch this great video now), again my best regards, have a happy weekend. Joanna

Hi Greg, what a fabulous explaination. I wished having such explaination during my childhood. You are a great inspiration. All the best for you and please go on…

Your analysis is as always, so insightful! Thanks for playing the slow beginning and the “fleeing” section back and forth, it’s wonderful to be able to compare them side by side.

Thank you Greg for playing Chopin as you do and explaining the way you explain Chopin. I will meditate on this Nocturne. I am taking a few days off, a little holiday. I will be back. See you again soon.

KZfaq algorithm brings me here, and I really love your analysis man!! I have been trying to understand this piece for months, and your analysis, your humble, your tonation, your feeling put into your speech is INCREDIBLE!! Gonna check your channel now. Hope you find this cmt!!

Anyway, after my comments, thank you Greg for this wonderful introduction to the piece and I really like your interpretation.

Gosh... you really bring these pieces to life. We are so lucky to have you doing these series. Also, very potent performance! It seemed like, as you were playing the final notes, you were struggling to calm back down. :)

Your analysis is so much fun, inspiring and just makes sense! Thanks so much! Now I just want to play this mind-blowing music all day long

Thank you for this analysis, I’m practicing this piece and I really want to interpret this in its whole complexity.

Bravo...oh... I had my copy of Eigeldinger's book open and then searched for you here. Your lesson opened windows to a deeper appreciation of Chopin's music and the man. Priceless. Thank you.

Always when I watch your analysis you inspire me to play ... Thank you Mr Grzegorzu 😉

It’s such a joy listening to your videos

29:17 Almost sounds like roadwork outside of the church ;) Jokes aside, I love this nocturne and I love this series. 32:37 Has to be one of my favorite moments in all of Chopin's music. Thank you for inspiring pianists all around the world and spreading the music of Chopin!

Thank you so much for this video. I am including this nocturne on a program I am performing next month and the Chopin has been challenging for me. My teacher says he thinks I'm playing it really well and he loves much of my interpretation (although of course there are always endless notes on what to do better), but you have given me some new ways to think about it and I appreciate this. My program is all nocturnes, although only one is Chopin. I so want to make it the best that I can.

Dziękuję za zaangażowanie. Zacząłem od pobieżnego słuchania Chopina... bo coś wypada wiedzieć mieszkając w kraju nad Wisłą, teraz odwiedzam Żelazową Wolę raz do roku i oglądam Pana analizy :)

If Chopin had only produced this nocturne in C minor op. 48 throughout all his life, he would still have been the great and fantastic composer that he was.

Thank you for this.....awesome explanition! Love your way of interpretate it.

No, on listening to it yet again... I don't think it's all this tragic. My reading is as follows. Part A: a summer night with a huge moon in the sky, a leasurely walk through a beautiful garden full of flowers and smells. Part B: a distant thunder, a storm is coming. Part C: we run hurriedly back home through heavy pummeling rain. Coda: we arrive just as the rain stops... Everything slows down, we catch our breath.

Amazing video. Though I have to say that I don't agree that the evil wins in this nocturne. There is a struggle between angels and demons in the middle going on for the soul of the "protagonist", but in the doppio movimento section, I get the sense that the protagonist now starts moving through the same suffering as before but with renewed vigour. Still with pain, but at least he is now moving again. It ends sad, because the suffering is still there, but he is still living and pushing through. The same is true for Bach's Chaconne from violin partita 2 (which you absolutely must listen to if you haven't; it is in my opinion Bach's greatest romantic work, way ahead of his time). In the Chaconne, you get the sense that Bach is expressing a great personal suffering (possibly the death of his first wife), and in the middle section you can almost feel how Bach describes God comforting Bach, almost like a musical embrace. Despite this, the music ends on a dark and tragic note. I highly doubt that Bach meant to portray a despair so strong that it implied that evil won, considering that he was a devout Christian to the end. Rather, it is an acceptance of the truth that we must live on through suffering towards our true goal (heaven), knowing that we won't always feel that comforting embrace, but at least we'll know from our memory that God is always there.

Really interesting analysis. Thank you so much for sharing.

so precious news about the piece you have given !!!!!!!!!! great master !!

Thanks really for this amazing analysis. I like this nocturne a lot and it always touches my heart. There should be some reasons behind. You tried to tell me some stories and interpretations which behind the notes. Thanks again for these detail explanations.

LOVE. IT. ❤

Hello Greg, I didn't know you but for some reason I found your channel, And the truth is that it is very interesting and very nice the way you analyze chopan's masterpieces how right you are how much experience you have, you are a great pianist and I thank you very much for all the analysis what do you do in particular this, is my favorite nocturne, true very sad but it is the one I like the most, I can't play it, actually only play 4 nocturnes, I am totally self-taught I never studied piano I don't even know how to read notes but I can play them through technology, thanks to synthesia, Congratulations again, Greetings from México

Thank you so much, it’s always something new and productive in your videos. 🌹🌹🌹

That was really lovely and in depth. Thank you so much for sharing

Thank you so much. Great video.

Thank you so much for this channel! It's like a breath of fresh air. It's one thing when a piece of music touches your soul and you intuitively feel that it's great without understanding why. It's quite another level of perception when you actually understand why you feel this way and what's great about it. So sad (and surprising) to see so few likes for the videos in this channel. :((( I'd give this a thousand likes if I could! It would be so great (I would be very keen to watch) if you could also analyze some of Chopin's works for piano+orchestra, especially piano concerto #1 and phantasy on Polish airs. Thank you for doing / having done this!

Yes, I hear it as a March. I am trying to learn the first phrase. It is heavy and sad. Thank you so much.

Hello Greg! OMG...I stumbled upon your site and so enjoyed listening to your lectures. I am currently revisiting Chopin's Nocturne in c sharp minor and loved the history regarding his writing of this piece. You are truly a wonderful teacher and pianist and I look forward to your videos. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your time and talent...all the best to you...Nick

made me cry

Greg absolutely fabulous anecdote on your life and experience in Ny city, also I love your referral and direct quote from the Chopin book on his students' opinion on 48 no 1. I have been watching your lessons and videos because I love the music and where I live there is nobody else who can enjoy this genre like me. I am not very good at playing piano but it is a wish of mine.

FYI: In the very first published edition of this piece the doppio movimento section does not have a diynamic marking! The pp was added by later publishers.

Amazing Greg! Much appreciated!

Greg, thank you a lot for one more amazing video! It is so interesting to watch your analysis. You’re so emotional and so sincere! The way you treat music is inspiring! I liked so much the story about your lesson. I think every student pianist has faced problem like this. That one day some teacher shouting at you so much, you feel like the worst musician in the world😅 This nocturne is so tricky in technical way. It seems not super hard to play like etude op25, 11 for example. But I’m studying doppio movemento like I’m studying octave etude😅

good analysis!

thank you so much for all your lovely videos, i appreciate them very much!

my fav internet piano teacher

Nothing is better than Chopin:)

Unbelievable. Polak tłumaczący Chopina po angielsku, fantastique! Pozdrowienia od Polaka w Ameryce.

My teacher gave me this nocturne to work on. I wanted to play it for a long time. But I've always been too sensitive. Often when I get to the final climax, I resist putting more emotion into it because it's just too heavy for me. I've only been able to take it when performing with an audience. Truly a kind of music that cannot be recreated.

Tremendous!!! Incredible. Thank you!!

jak dobrze rozumieć nie tylko sercem, ale i kompozycyjnie ...bardzo ciekawe doświadczenie...to ciastko smakuje inaczej ...jest lepsze i pachnie różami...dziękuję

Thanks again for sharing your knowledge, insight and love for this music :)

Great video! Thank you so much

I watched this again because it is my favorite, and I can really imagine how difficult this is to play if it for demonstration purposes..so this would require 100 % concentration.

Wow, what a beautiful interpretation. thanks for that great video

It's not like Nocturne, but it's my favorite song in Nocturne. Is it a chorale style while intense emotions are increasing steadily? Choir? light? of I feel melancholy and sadness in such a part. Thank you for your wonderful analysis video.

Very Nice!

No, I don't buy the Wodzińska story. By 1841 Chopin had been with George Sand for some three years, and he had known since 1837 that Wodzińska's parents would not have agreed to the marriage. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it turned out that behind all the drama of the nocturne was some trivial domestic quarrel. Recall Mozart's "Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen." Such Wagnerian drama! Yet the idea for the aria, it is said, arose from an argument with either Mozart's mother in law or his landlady, I don't remember, who shouted at the poor man at the top of her voice.

I love this

such a passionate analysis maestro, i really wanna listen to your interpretation of my favourite composer Ravel

thanks for this channel

47:44 Wspaniale osadzony dźwięk.. tam jest jego miejsce . mistrzosko wykonane brawo wielkie brawa ode mnie spóźnione ale pierwszy raz widzę więc ... Po prostu brawo

By rozumieć Chopina trzeba sie urodzić w Polsce ......❤

Great job

For some reason that last part makes me think that the person running feels/sees an eagle shooting down behind him and he's running and trying to escape with a letter. He feels eagles and lizards chasing him relentlessly. After a battle he decides to go back towards where the eagle is landing in its nest. The lizards and all other creatures watch without judgement. He then places the letter softly in the eagles beak and watches it fly away.

0:27 you catched me!!!, i was thinking exactly that xdd

Bravo!P.Helling