Around The World (36)

Hello Around the World is going classical for the last time, with what can be considered night ambient or nocturnal, even if life in those days wasn't as stressy they did like to chill out some aswell. A nocturne is usually a musical composition that is inspired by, or evocative of, the night, nocturnes are generally thought of as being tranquil, often expressive and lyrical, and sometimes rather gloomy. The nocturne was cultivated primarily in the nineteenth century. The first nocturnes to be written under the specific title were by the Irish composer John Field, generally viewed as the father of the Romantic nocturne.

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John Field (July 26, 1782 – January 23, 1837) was Ireland's greatest composer even if his music has largely disappeared. He is best known for being the first composer to write nocturnes. Field was born in Dublin in 1782, the eldest son of Protestant Irish parents. He first studied the piano under his grandfather, who was a professional organist, and later under Tommaso Giordani. He made his debut at the age of nine. His family moved to London in 1793, where his father secured for him an apprenticeship with the pianist and piano manufacturer Muzio Clementi. By the time he was seventeen, Field had already premiered his First Piano Concerto (he wrote seven of them); it was one of the last acts of his apprenticeship. He was lionized as a performer for several years before turning to composition, beginning with his first set of piano sonatas, published in 1801. 

In 1801 Field accompanied Clementi on a tour of Paris and Vienna. When Clementi moved to Russia, Field followed him there, continuing his employment demonstrating his pianos. Field established his own concert career in Russia, and by 1806 was dividing his time between Moscow and Saint Petersburg, settling in the latter city after his marriage to a French woman in 1810. His teaching proved lucrative, and his lifestyle became somewhat extravagant, living as something of a bon vivant. By 1831 his health deteriorated, and suffering from a painful cancer of the rectum he travelled back to London for medical attention. After treatment he returned to Russia by way of France and Italy, spending nine months in a hospital in Naples. Helped by a Russian aristocratic family, he returned to Moscow in 1835, where he composed his last few nocturnes in the sixteen months remaining to him. 

Field is best remembered for his eighteen nocturnes which are single movement impromptu compositions for piano that maintain a single mood throughout. He is also the founder of the piano nocturne. The first three of these date from 1812. These pieces are further notable for their influence on Frédéric Chopin, who further developped the format and went on to write 21 nocturnes himself.

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Roberte Mamou - John Field 15 Nocturnes ( 94 ^ 137mb)

The Tunisian-born pianist Roberte Mamou was trained in her own country, Paris and Antwerp.She's based in Europe, and has worked mostly in Belgium. Her multi-faceted and colourful musical personality emerges magically from the instrument when she plays, in a breathtaking alchemy which owes something to the flavours and scents of Tunisia where she spent her childhood. The experience of ten years as vocal coach at the La Monnaie Royal Opera in Brussels is also discernible, but perhaps what comes across most is the love and passion which she has always felt for music in all its forms. As a soloist Roberte Mamou has appeared with some of the greatest orchestras and ensembles.

01 - No.1 in E flat major (3:37)
02 - No.2 in C minor (2:52)
03 - No.3 in A flat major (4:02)
04 - No.4 in A major (5:11)
05 - No.5 in B flat major (2:36)
06 - No.6 in F major (4:31)
07 - No.7 in C major (5:07)
08 - No.8 in A major (4:15)
09 - No.9 in E flat major (3:18)
10 - No.10 in E minor (3:18)
11 - No.11 in E flat major (5:37)
12 - No.12 in G major (2:52)
13 - No.13 in D minor (3:34) 
14 - No.14 in C major (9:06)
15 - No.15 in C major (5:01)

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