Many of Chopin’s Nocturnes follow a ternary structure, or ABA form, where melodies of the A-section repeat and flank a different middle section.
Interestingly, however, Chopin’s Nocturnes often implement subtle embellishments to each repetition of these A-themes.
His first Nocturne Opus 9, Number 1 is a good example of these melodic variations.
Taking a closer look at the melodies we can see how similar they are: many pitches remain the same.
Chopin alters the melodies by essentially filling in and decorating intervallic and rhythmic spaces between notes, as though each resting point is an opportunity to add some decoration.
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