Chopin, Piano Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 9, No. 2 (1'23'')

Frédéric Chopin composed his most popular Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 9, No. 2 when he was about twenty. The nocturne is reflective in mood until it suddenly becomes passionate near the end. The new concluding melody begins softly but then ascends to a high register and is played forcefully in octaves, eventually reaching the loudest part of the piece, marked fortissimo. After a trill-like passage, the excitement subsides; the nocturne ends calmly.