John Field (1782–1837) was an Irish composer and pianist. He is best known … Read Full Bio ↴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. 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. 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.1 in E Flat Major H.24
John Field Lyrics
No lyrics text found for this track.
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
steve weiser
The creator of the Nocturne and a wonderful piece for piano learning .
Pianist On Road - Thurzó Zoltán
:)
Caters Carrots
Sounds like this nocturne might have been the inspiration for the much more well known Eb Major nocturne by Chopin. Same triplet 4/4 feel to it as the more well known Eb nocturne. Even that upbeat Bb at the start of the first phrase and it's variants is shared between the 2 nocturnes, just that Chopin's goes up to a G instead of an Eb.
Leon Lul
That is very true. Chopin definetly got inspired by that because its one of the first "real" Nocture how we know it theses days. John Field kinda invented this characteristic nocture sound.
B Me
Chopin would often give his "average" students Field's compositions to learn. And yes, he took this form and enhanced it to a whole new level.
A LL
very touching performance, very soft and light, beautiful, Thank you for sharing. and Thank you to John Field.
Pianist On Road - Thurzó Zoltán
Thank you!
Literally AMonkey
This is a very good piece should should be famous.
Pianist On Road - Thurzó Zoltán
True!
John Lemon
This performance is more than incredible, a very fresh and moving interpretation of a painfully gracious work of art. You capture the quiet misery of Field well, I can feel the passion with which you play as if you're playing it in front of me. Very well done, thank you for sharing, never stop playing.