John Field
John Field (1782–1837) was an Irish composer and pianist. He is best known for being the first musician to write nocturnes. Field marked a transition in classical music from an emphasis on technical virtuosity to lyrical expression, and paved way for composers like Chopin (of whom he was later quite critical).
Field was born in Dublin on 26th July 1782, the eldest son of Protestant Irish parents. His father, Robert Field, earned his living by playing the violin in Dublin theatres. Read Full BioJohn Field (1782–1837) was an Irish composer and pianist. He is best known for being the first musician to write nocturnes. Field marked a transition in classical music from an emphasis on technical virtuosity to lyrical expression, and paved way for composers like Chopin (of whom he was later quite critical).
Field was born in Dublin on 26th July 1782, the eldest son of Protestant Irish parents. His father, Robert Field, earned his living by playing the violin in Dublin theatres. Field first studied the piano under his grandfather (also named John Field), who was a professional organist, and later under Tommaso Giordani. He made his debut at the age of nine, a performance that was well-received, on 24th March 1792 in Dublin. His family moved to Bath in 1793, and later that same year went to London. Field's father there secured for him an apprenticeship with the pianist and piano manufacturer Muzio Clementi. He attracted favourable comment from Joseph Haydn for his performances. 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, dedicated to Clementi, published in 1801.
In 1801 Field accompanied Clementi on a tour of Paris and Vienna (where he studied briefly with Johann Georg Albrechtsberger). 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 in 1810.
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 (where, after first hearing one of Franz Liszt's assaults on the keyboard, he asked his neighbour, "Does he bite?") and Italy, spending nine months in a hospital in Naples. Helped by a Russian aristocratic family, he returned to Moscow in 1835, and gave three concerts in Vienna en route, as a guest of Carl Czerny. In Moscow, he composed his last few nocturnes in the sixteen months remaining to him. He died in Moscow two years later, on 23rd January 1837.
Field is best remembered for his eighteen nocturnes which are single movement impromptu compositions for piano that maintain a single mood throughout. The first three of these date from 1812. These pieces are further notable for their influence on Frédéric Chopin, who went on to write twenty-one nocturnes himself.
Field was born in Dublin on 26th July 1782, the eldest son of Protestant Irish parents. His father, Robert Field, earned his living by playing the violin in Dublin theatres. Read Full BioJohn Field (1782–1837) was an Irish composer and pianist. He is best known for being the first musician to write nocturnes. Field marked a transition in classical music from an emphasis on technical virtuosity to lyrical expression, and paved way for composers like Chopin (of whom he was later quite critical).
Field was born in Dublin on 26th July 1782, the eldest son of Protestant Irish parents. His father, Robert Field, earned his living by playing the violin in Dublin theatres. Field first studied the piano under his grandfather (also named John Field), who was a professional organist, and later under Tommaso Giordani. He made his debut at the age of nine, a performance that was well-received, on 24th March 1792 in Dublin. His family moved to Bath in 1793, and later that same year went to London. Field's father there secured for him an apprenticeship with the pianist and piano manufacturer Muzio Clementi. He attracted favourable comment from Joseph Haydn for his performances. 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, dedicated to Clementi, published in 1801.
In 1801 Field accompanied Clementi on a tour of Paris and Vienna (where he studied briefly with Johann Georg Albrechtsberger). 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 in 1810.
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 (where, after first hearing one of Franz Liszt's assaults on the keyboard, he asked his neighbour, "Does he bite?") and Italy, spending nine months in a hospital in Naples. Helped by a Russian aristocratic family, he returned to Moscow in 1835, and gave three concerts in Vienna en route, as a guest of Carl Czerny. In Moscow, he composed his last few nocturnes in the sixteen months remaining to him. He died in Moscow two years later, on 23rd January 1837.
Field is best remembered for his eighteen nocturnes which are single movement impromptu compositions for piano that maintain a single mood throughout. The first three of these date from 1812. These pieces are further notable for their influence on Frédéric Chopin, who went on to write twenty-one nocturnes himself.
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Nocturne No. 2 in C minor
John Field Lyrics
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The lyrics can frequently be found in the comments below or by filtering for lyric videos.
Pierce Byers
For those who do not know, John Field invented Nocturnes as a musical form. However, Chopin popularized them. He studied Field's Nocturnes carefully and then he wrote his own. Both composers wrote some amazing Nocturnes. It's exciting having heard the entire collection of each and being able to see how much inspiration Chopin captured from Field. Chopin himself was also a true innovator. He brought the old Polish folk music forms of Mazurkas and Polonaises to piano, essentially creating two new classical musical forms.
Iwona Jiménez
For chose who do not know, Maria Szymanowska inspired Chopin, much more than John Field. Maria Szymanowska was polish composer of nocturnes, mazurkas, polonaises and waltz but at that time woman could not survive as musician and her works were forgotten by everybody.
Kinyobi Music - Titus Tielens
I am glad that Chopin did some Field research.
Kariné Poghosyan
@Benjamin Totallynotalt smaller-scale character piece that usually has the sense of a lyrical “nighttime“ serenade, hence the name. Loved this performance so much ❤️🎶
Ameer Hamza
Don't forget about the ballades
Benjamin Totallynotalt
What exactly is nocturne?
לוקאס פ.
The influence on Chopin is clear, it actually sounds like something Chopin himself would have composed... Field's nocturnes sound more "magical", perhaps because of the pedaling, while Chopin's sound more elegant and grieving.
『サービスクラブ』 𝓗𝓲𝓷𝓪
@לוקאס פ. yes yes makes sense just wanted to make sure
לוקאס פ.
@『サービスクラブ』 𝓗𝓲𝓷𝓪 no, I mean his influence on Chopin is clear to the extent this seems like something Chopin would have composed
『サービスクラブ』 𝓗𝓲𝓷𝓪
You mean Chopin Influenced Field?