Nocturne No. 1 in E-flat minor

Nocturne No. 1 in E-flat minor by Gabriel Fauré, catalogued as Op. 33 No. 1, is a work for solo piano in E-flat minor. Composed during the Late Romantic era, it forms part of the composer's enduring contribution to the keyboard repertoire and is freely available in the public domain through archives such as IMSLP.

Gabriel Fauré's Nocturnes, Barcarolles, and Impromptus form a private, elegantly modulating world halfway between Chopin and Debussy. His harmonic language, especially in the late works, anticipates much of the twentieth century.

The work is suited to advanced-level pianists. As with all repertoire from this period, study editions vary; the public-domain engravings linked here are based on the most widely-circulated nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century editions and are sufficient for serious study, recital preparation, and recording.

About Gabriel Fauré

Gabriel Fauré's Nocturnes, Barcarolles, and Impromptus form a private, elegantly modulating world halfway between Chopin and Debussy. His harmonic language, especially in the late works, anticipates much of the twentieth century.

Key character — E-flat minor

Anguished and remote. Six flats away from the friendly center of the keyboard, used sparingly for moments of profound seriousness.

The Late Romantic Era

The late Romantic era extended Romantic intensity into chromatic, large-scale works by Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, Fauré, and the late Brahms. Harmonic ambiguity and dense layered textures begin to point toward the modern.

About the Nocturne form

Invented by John Field around 1812 and perfected by Chopin, the nocturne is a slow, lyrical character piece with a singing right-hand melody supported by a flowing left-hand arpeggiation — the keyboard's answer to the bel canto aria.