Chopin Nocturne C minor Op. 48 no. 1 - Analysis: DEMONS and DESPAIR

Pianist Henrik Kilhamn goes through Chopin's heaviest and most dramatic Nocturne - the one in C minor. The lonely notes in the melody is haunted by a demon and blows up in the recapulation when it's just too much to handle.
0:00 Analysis
6:37 Middle section
10:21 Return
14:16 Performance
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Frédéric Chopin: Nocturne in C minor, Op. 48 no. 1 (1841)
📄 SCORE: Schirmer, 1894, reissue 1934, editor Carl Mikuli, imslp.org
Emoji artwork provided by JoyPixels, joypixels.com

[@27jegs]

My very favorite of all the Nocturnes.

[@arlettehellemans2117]

The same for me! It's like a description of a period in my life.

[@f.p.5235]

Same, that struggle is breath taking.

[@rxboy]

"it's too much to handle, really" You summed it up quite well.

[@ZKLofiTone]

timestamps?

[@Velnox]

I'm in awe. The more I learn about Chopin's work, the more I realise the gap that stands between this man and the rest of the world. I'm in tears everytime I listen to my favorite composer, I feel like I could never understand his sentimental and deep understanding of human's heart. This nocturne is the best piece I've ever listened, nothing but pure emotions, truly the work of a prodigy ❤

[@zildagorresio6019]

A progigy relly.

[@dhio9615]

I love how you made a story out of this piece. I think a competent movie maker could probably make a movie with the story that this piece is telling.

[@SonataSecrets]

Thanks Dhia. Yeah, there's so much drama in the music...

[@dhio9615]

@@SonataSecrets I think that is what Chopin excel at compared to other pianist of his era and pianist that adore him like Rachmaninoff and Debussy also have this ability of squeezing emotion from air vibrations.

[@walterw9829]

My ex emailed me during your performance and your performance was the soundtrack for it. Chopin knew heartache for sure.

[@SonataSecrets]

❤

[@mm_you_tube]

YOU ARE GENIUS, HENRIK! I love playing this nocture and I was just searching for some orchestral arrangements here on YT when I found YOUR VIDEO and... I am shocked how well you described this masterpiece. I appreciate how natural you are and how good is your storytelling, not to mention your piano playing which is obviously perfect. I am overwhelmed. Just spent an hour at night watching this video back and forth :) THANK YOU, Man. Greetings from Wrocław, Poland.

[@SonataSecrets]

Thank you Matt, it's my pleasure!

[@PorscheGT-yj2me]

This is exactly what I was looking for to help me add more emotion into the piece thank you!

[@SonataSecrets]

Glad I could help!

[@thePraddagee]

The climax of this piece makes me teary eyes. Every time. I’m usually emotionally in control but something about this piece…

[@michael88keys66]

Definatly the best and saddest nocturne. I love your interpretation of it Thanks

[@amj.composer]

The end of the b section is so extra, I love it

[@lucaszimmer6967]

Absolutely love your analyses, really gets me loving the pieces much more. You also got me to play Ravel's Pavane!

[@SonataSecrets]

Glad to hear it! :)

[@hunterchikar5108]

Amazing analysis, you really helped me understand the piece, this makes it a lot easier to connect and interpret the piece. I now feel more emotionally connected to the piece while playing, thank you!!

[@SonataSecrets]

Happy it was helpful :)

[@baltazarbitran2947]

I was having trouble finding meaning in the contrasting middle section and this really helped. Great analysis!

[@SonataSecrets]

Thanks Baltazar!

[@tyler-qr5jn]

I keep coming back to this video because I'm absolutely in love with how you play

[@fabz1509]

Addicted to listening to this Nocturne & thanks for the informative & entertaining analysis. I truly think the recap. section was composed at many later sessions simply because it's just too devine & so beautifully crafted. Also I very much applaude him for the abrupt ending as it leaves you wanting to listen to it again & again.

[@joshtt3240]

I find it so hard not to tear up listening to this piece, it perfectly captures grief and loss but in the most perfect beautiful way, seriously what did Chopin go through to compose this masterpiece? Amazing playing btw matey

[@siuchristina]

Discovered your channel by accident - just love it! I've only started playing the piano again after a very long break and am delighted to discover Simple Solutions which is exactly what I need! Thank you so much and look forward to more videos and simpler arrangements :)

[@SonataSecrets]

I'm so happy to hear that. I hope you enjoy the arrangements!

[@KingShumilov]

I've been looking for an analysis of this piece on youtube for a while, really enjoyed listening to that and especially the description of the ground disappearing and the feeling of taking flight

[@SonataSecrets]

Thank you! :)

[@azloii9781]

The ending makes me cry so hard

[@Jon77Levy]

This channel has helped me to understand the music better. Listening to these same pieces gives me much more enjoyment now. Thank you, Henrik.

[@8413Lucas]

I recently discovered your channel and the content is so useful and interesting! I really like the little emojis here and there! By the way you need more recognition, your channel is so underrated

[@SonataSecrets]

Thank you Lucas, welcome to the channel!

[@michaelardner7859]

i love your passion you play with and explain it all I have the same passion this is why Chopin is my favorite you can really hear the sorrow in his music along with all the other emotions he loves to express thru his music thank you sir

[@AkinduDasanayake]

Everything you described makes this piece seen like the story of a breakup. Excellent analysis!

[@SonataSecrets]

Why not!

[@cbrock21]

Breakup? The tragedy here is monumental. The bottom is falling out. And it ends hopelessly. Some of the darkest Chopin.

[@box1702]

Great analysis I loved it, and the emoticons very well chosen, your work is excellent, very original, keep going

[@SonataSecrets]

Thank you, I'm glad you liked it!

[@jisyang8781]

at 9:13 and 9:24 your right hand top notes deviate from score. At 9:13 it should be A and 9:24 it should be B. It's basically the same chorale 8 bars before if you remove octaves.

[@joaobarros6744]

Loved your analysis of one of my favorite chopin pieces!! I thought it interesting your idea that his outburst after the demon (9:47) is happy and outcoming! I've always interpreted differently though. I think as if he was telling a story of great loss after a long battle, and in the end the demon comes and disrupts it all, and that is the las straw, he breaks and enters a state of dramatic chaos, lamenting and feeling it all... (which is the next part after the great descending octaves resolution)

[@michaelillingworth6433]

Thanks for the video. I particularly liked how you include clips of tutors showing how you overcame some of the issues you had.

[@nomsodka]

this is sooooo helpful! i’ve been struggling for two weeks and then i found your video. it makes me understand the emotions and can play it better. thank you so much

[@deborahrosen3324]

Just beautiful! One of my favorite pieces by Chopin for sure 👌😁🤩

[@benr7882]

The middle section sounds like the awe and the majesty of a church organ. Like Chopin is pressing his ear against the doors of the narthex listening to the music of church then he is tormented by a demon. Chopin tormented rushes out of the church into the gloom of a rainy Parisien day. Chopin was known to be tormented by demon and having mental illness. This is what I feel. Remember, art is subjective.

[@fgattorno]

One of my favorite Nocturne; love your analysis. Thank you very much

[@tyler-qr5jn]

Favourite Nocturne, thanks for the analysis. Helped me improve how I play this piece.

[@gazzamuso]

Such a wonderful piece. Thanks for this great analysis 💖

[@work2traveltheworld]

Really love your channel. Enjoyed how you explain the piece, with the story in the background. Thank you for sharing.

[@bluepearl4806]

You play beautifuly !!! Thank you very much for your valuable analyses I love them thank you!!!!🙏🙏🙏💐💐💐💐💐🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺💕💕

[@chrisye3974]

This is such a great video! Keep it up, and I enjoyed every second of it! Thank you :)

[@hilow64imp]

A true insight into the sheer genius that was Chopin. Absolutely beautiful and job well done.

[@bradyredding1964]

I love These analysis videos I watch them every time before I learn a piece because it just makes it so much easier, thank you!!!!

[@margarethansen7480]

I’m sad to discover your channel few weeks ago, but I’m trying to see all “old” vídeos degustating it how it deserves It’s too didatic in terms of feelings that we’d always had listening that, but we should not learn or see in any other channel Congratulations!! Great job!!👏👏👏👏

[@adrianaaraujo4888]

Bravo!!! Que vídeo maravilhoso. Excelente explicação e belíssima interpretação. ❤️

[@caraher]

Great walk through of the whole piece & I enjoyed the performance at the end. Your technique on the 3rd section is a goal of many-even pacing with a soft touch & pronounced melody. Bravo!

[@alisongray6786]

Wonderful! This is the Chopin piece I most yearn to play, am still building my technique experience before I tackle it properly, but when I’m ready I'll definitively revisit this excellent tutorial. Very glad I discovered your channel which has many other excellent tutorials on pieces I want to play, thank you ❤

[@tk21them]

hi i am 15 and play the piano 11 years i recently finished chopin nocturne op 55 no 1 and your video really helped me understand the piece .I played it on a competition and i was 2 .Now i wanted to play a more tragic and beutifull piece and i picked this nocturne .I just finished your video and i am hyped to play this oustanising piece.Very good analysis keep it uppppp!!!!!

[@tk21them]

@Gísiu Wolf yes and i played this piece in my exams and went really good.Now i am going to learn chopin etude op 25 no 2

[@tk21them]

@Gísiu Wolf i hope so but i see all the prodieges around the word and i dont think i can succeed

[@michaelsmith697]

Awesome that you can play this. It’s a magical work!

[@GH_WH_SIN]

Thank you sir for the wonderful explanation of the piece!

[@kayexu7039]

Henrik, you are as eloquent with your words as you are with your music 😊

[@MildSatire]

Bravo! I can tell you're very passionate about this piece just like me, this helped me get some new ideas for the dynamics. Thank you!

[@SonataSecrets]

Thanks, I'm glad it was helpful! :)

[@stephenhobbs948]

Great use of emojiins to explain what you mean and where in the score you're explaining yourself.

[@raphaelneves7666]

This channel is awesome! Thank you

[@danielnunez3206]

Amazing video, thank you so much

[@Maja-uq5uw]

Thank you for making this! Very beautiful performance 😊

[@SonataSecrets]

Thank you! :)

[@kayexu7039]

I am learning this piece now. Thank you for the wonderful analysis 😊

[@michaelsmith697]

This is a wonderful work! I hope I can do it!!

[@debbieprzybylski4855]

Thank you so much. I found this totally inspiring.

[@maximradchik3420]

This is brilliant!!

[@SonataSecrets]

Thanks Maxim!

[@stephenpalmer-zh9dq]

when playing the opening a very dark time arises in mind

[@LeoVDove]

Love your content

[@hdholl9696]

Great graphics. Very funny, yet a sublime mnemotechnic aid. A very good 'tutorial'.

[@stephenowesney5173]

I think his Op. 27 no. 1 is of the darkest of the nocturnes and it has some really interesting compositional elements. I would love to hear your take on it!

[@rooron3152]

My fav nocturne forever

[@waimusic3559]

Life be a greater joy playing the piano like you. Music can be so powerful in emotion communication across time, space, human races and culture. Thank you. Wish more music lovers could see this footage...

[@SonataSecrets]

Thank you so much Wai. I agree, music really is a powerful source of human connection, and I'm happy to be able to share it!

[@liltick102]

Been looking for a channel that does these sorts of analyses - can’t wait to check out your video’s on Satie and Ravel This is also my favourite of his Nocturnes - Argerich’s interpretation in particular (albeit ik she plays it a bit faster than the piece calls for) I play this every day - one of the first classical pieces I fell hard for as a kid.

[@Yourbrothergoods]

this channel so useful and great!!! with love from vietnam

[@SonataSecrets]

Thank you Vietnam! :)

[@tetyanachorna8139]

Thanks ❤️❤️❤️

[@beegyoshiofficial8518]

love your videos. Just recently discovered your channel and I've been binge watching all your vids. Will you be making a vid on the D flat nocturn? Thanks for all the great content! You've immensely talented.

[@SonataSecrets]

Thank you! If I come back to the Nocturnes the D flat is at the top of the list, but I have some other repertoire planned before that...

[@pascalxus]

this one's been on my list for some time now. really looking forward to it. first i gotta finish opus 72 no 1.

[@catalansimp]

Just amazing

[@jamessutton9169]

Prof Kilhamn, How does playing this piece make you feel? Is it difficult, emotionally, to play? Do you ever think, "Oh, no. I don't want to play that now, it's too dark and foreboding"? Or does playing it have the opposite effect?

[@Jantsenpr777]

Exquisite!

[@lillypad0205]

your interpretation of this was really refreshing lol especially the emojis and little drawings on the sheets music

[@JackBHolt]

To me, this piece represents helplessness. Like as if you lost someone you loved and it was all your fault. Sad, then reminiscing, then angry at yourself.

[@ruthbarratt-peacock8688]

I love the use of emojis in the analysis

[@sanguinemvento2411]

I love this chanel

[@waggawaggaful]

Brilliant analysis. This is such a delirious and surreal piece and I feel tired just looking at the sheet music. I tried this piece in college and it just felt too massive. And the way you describe it is scary but accurate. I feel like it is not the right piece to play in a setting like a hospital or old folk's home. I'm not sure where or how it would really be appropriate to play it.

[@user-mj9iy7df8w]

Thank you so much, new subscriber right here!

[@15ironreaver]

This and Op. 27 No. 2 I believe stand above the rest as clear S tier nocturns

[@rojavida]

Really great analysis of one of my favourite Chopin nocturnes. My teacher side would like you to sit slightly lower on the bench ;-)

[@utekarg3281]

Thank you Henrik for your great work! KZbin is full of piano tutorials where you can see which notes to play and what fingers to use, we don’t need more like that. That’s why I’m sooo thankful I discovered your channel. You talk about feelings in music and how they are created. And why music lovers like me make exactly the same emoji faces when listening or playing pieces like this gorgeous nocturne which is my favorite. I absolutely love the part with the guy flying over the melody. And of course the end of the doppio with that „almost“ resolution into a gorgeous chord which I cannot identify. Can you tell me what chord that is? Based on c, but more dramatic. Tack så mycket.

[@SonataSecrets]

Thank you Ute, I'm so happy to hear that! :) Oh right, I don't say what chord it is here - it's a deceptive cadence to Ab7 (with the 7th Gb in the bass), that then goes on to Db - G7 - Cm for the final resolution.

[@utekarg3281]

@@SonataSecrets ... thanks for the answer Henrik, this part gives me goosebumps every time ... Greetings from the German Baltic coast ... which is almost Sweden, right? Tack så mycket

[@SonataSecrets]

Sure, it's close enough!

[@TheLys7]

Gracias

[@alicialoveschopin6774]

I recently learnt op 32 no2, op 55 no1 and op 62 no2 with the help of your videos. I wish you were my piano teacher! I’m gonna try this op48 no1, it seems so difficult though. Next I’m gonna try the polonaises. Am I aiming too high? (I stopped practicing for 20 years) Please do some videos of Chopin polonaises. Love from Hong Kong. Thanks a million.

[@emreoztimur7216]

the "ohh" on 5:51 is like a test. If you are not feeling that every time when you listen to (or play) this part, you are dead inside!

[@radoslavdragnev8797]

what is this piano it sounds amazing !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@davidherthnek6212]

Suverän analys! Håller med om känslorna som frammanas, även om man kan undra hur universellt det upplevs så. Tyvärr fixar jag bara första delen. Hinner inte bryta upp de stora ackorden i c dur...

[@Ingefurly]

A very dramatic effect is obtained in the Coda of the piece (six bars to the end), whereas we first land on a octave-doubled bass Gb, that is the 7th minor of a chord containing the C min harmony (a sort of false and rich of tension landing on the 7th), and in the subsequent bar we land on a tripled natural B, that is the 7th of C harmony. Finally, we land in the C min harmony, after two false landings that create tension to the final chord of C min. All this creates a suspended ending, rich of emotional strenght with a very dramatic effect, in my opinion. Let me ask a question: why, ini the doppio movimento, at 12:34 , 12:46 and so on, you don't mantain regular the ascending chromes of the theme, instead of adapting the triplets to them?

[@Deibler666]

Greatly explained! But the final part is not a march!

[@CatkhosruShapurrjiFurabji]

The ending is so brutal, so desperate, with agitated triplet accompaniment, achingly nostalgic major 7th chords etc. and it reminds me of early Scriabin. While the overall impression the piece may leave is that of a cynical person, the ending is probably the music that runs in one's head when they're thinking of commiting suicide. It's that brutal!

[@CatkhosruShapurrjiFurabji]

13:40 this passage is so ominous.

[@alexis_accurseds3639]

Epic

[@israasamir2342]

Great analysis loved it Can you make an analysis to chopin nocturne op27 no 2 Will be great thanks

[@Meewee466]

Would you say Chopin was “talking” in this piece more than singing in something like nocturne op.9? Especially on the part you called “flying” I heard it as him trying to tell something to someone but being always interrupted by doubts and overthinking etc. until eventually letting it out on the “flying” part.

[@box1702]

Hey friend, your fingers are very long, as many as my arms and you have taken very good advantage of them, congratulations

[@keithkunikida1222]

This song was rejected too because of the transition to the Doppio Movimento section, my family said that this song had zero relation and doesn’t evoke night

[@keithkunikida1222]

Also my family hates anything that’s forte or louder, having huge contrast or overly sad/angry. I might be able to list at least 10 songs that I enjoyed that my family disapproved

[@keithkunikida1222]

1. Moonlight Sonata 1st Movement 2. Moonlight Sonata 3rd Movement 3. Nocturne in C sharp minor Op. posth 4. Prelude in E minor Op. 28 No. 4 5. Prelude in C minor Op. 28 No. 20 6. Octaves Etude in B minor Op. 25 No. 10 7. Winter Wind Etude in A minor Op. 25 No. 11 8. Nocturne in C minor Op. 48 No. 1 9. Nocturne in F major Op. 15 No. 1 10. Revolutionary Etude in C minor Op. 10 No. 12

[@Ezekiel_Pianist]

@@keithkunikida1222 that’s a shame your family is like this does it actually affect your ability to enjoy these pieces or is it just a slight annoyance

[@TheMusicalKnokcers]

pls secretly learn revolutionary etude like separate hands so it's not loud and then just blast the fuck out of them with this glorious piece. Also you might consider purchasing a cheap keyboard in order to be able to play with headphones so that only you choses what you can play.

[@keithkunikida1222]

@@Ezekiel_Pianist it doesn't, Im just annoyed that they think its too loud, along with that list. I enjoy all of these pieces and I wont stop

[@LupusSolitus]

Hi Henrik. Thanks for your insightful analysis of this heart-wrenching nocturne. Apologies for pointing out a mistake: at 5:24 and 15:30 Chopin uses the more unyielding G instead of B-natural in the base. (I made the same mistake when learning the piece.)

[@jagp135]

Actually some versions of the score have a b natural in both sections, I believe Chopin changed it in a revision.

[@mattmilford8106]

He seems to change a lot of notes. Look at the way he just crosses out the inconvenient ones in the score. Most jarring to me is 17:30 and 17:38. I had to grab my copy to make sure I was remembering right. The chords at the end of measure 41 and 43 are supposed to be wider, but he lowers the top (melody) note for some reason and I just cannot abide it.

[@user-is5qd7dy9n]

Was this the one he wrote right after the tragedy of his sister’s death? Or am I confusing that with another piece?

[@panda3651]

are there similar kinds of video for the flute?. long master classes, analysis videos?. Plz recommend some for me.

[@SonataSecrets]

I son't know of any flute channels I'm afraid... For symphonic music I can reccomend Inside the Score who gives very accessible presentations of classical music, even more generally than here.

[@panda3651]

@@SonataSecrets thank you, I'll take a look. my mother has been learning the flute for 2 years now. due to where she's living there isn't really a good flute teacher, or any flute teachers for that matter. I'm trying to find and translate some of the videos for her to watch to hopefully make her a better flute player :)

[@Fritz_Maisenbacher]

Pianissimo doesn't mean soft, it is not loud. Something can be very agitated and not loud.

[@harryzarick5826]

This is the most sad and angry at the same time to me :D

[@PianoScenesMoviesandSeries]

Thank you for sharing. The third section is deceptively difficult.

[@SonataSecrets]

Yes, on par with the technical level of the Ballades.

[@Youssef-iu8dn]

4:10 oops

[@markd2797]

Who knew Edward Snowden played piano

[@16donamirof]

Hello young man. I have a very important question. Do we have any analysis about harmony in this kind of music? why you are not talking about S-D-T... chords?!!!! When I am searching for these kinds of analysis I really would like to hear about high professionalism. You hear in this music nostalgia or sadness or, or, or... But it's just described for amateurs but not analysis. Sorry for my comment, but it is not an analysis. I give like but it's not fair.😐

[@SonataSecrets]

Thanks for the comment, and for the like anyway! This is one of the first videos I ever did, and I have tried to find a style since then that also provides more advanced types of analysis like harmonic functions. But at the same time I would also call this another type of analysis that is more accessible (there is no better word for it!), and looking at the music from another perspective than only the traditional harmonic analysis.

[@16donamirof]

@@SonataSecrets I wish you the best. I really liked your videos but as a composer and harmony teacher I would like and wait for your videos really . wish you the best and I trust that you are a very good musician.

[@gtd9536]

Whenever anyone asks me what my favorite Chopin nocturne is, I say "yes".

[@ZKLofiTone]

This one for sure!!