FRÉDÉRIC FRANÇOIS CHOPIN (1810 – 1849) - Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op.31

FRÉDÉRIC FRANÇOIS CHOPIN (1810 – 1849)

Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op.31

Chopin is unquestionably one of the great masters of Romantic music who composed numerous technically demanding yet heartfelt works for the piano. As the second of four Scherzi that Chopin wrote, this was composed and published in 1837 and dedicated to Countess Adèle de Fürstenstein. While the word “scherzo” suggests jest or joke and playfulness, one would find it hard to find any humour in this particular work. In fact, Schumann compared it to a Byronic poem that is “overflowing with tenderness, boldness, love and contempt”.

The scherzo opens with sotto voce ghostly triplets subsequently by thundering chords, which was what Chopin thought of as a quiet question and its roaring answer. These then lead to the con anima broad lyrical melody. This entire section is then repeated once again, however with slightly different chords on the the right hand. The piece then transits into the middle A major trio section where the music starts off being quiet and calm. The pianissimo melody is melancholic and draws itself into an expressivo tender section and which then spins into a bouyant leggiero which then brings us back to a repeat of the the middle section again. The repeat then takes us to tumultous and dramatic section of variations of previous themes modulating continuously various keys. A reprise of the opening section, with its recognisable question-and-answer motif then follows again. However this time, it opens the floodgate of tension and drama to a rapid and agitated coda that gathers power and unstoppable momentum till it finishes convincingly in the relative key of Db major.