Nocturnes
and the Fascination of Night Music
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Yale University Press
Published:24th Mar '26
Should be back in stock very soon
An engrossing history of the music of twilight and sleep, from the nocturnes of Field and Chopin to Max Richter
In an insomniac age, ambient and sleep music have become increasingly popular. But our association between music and sleep is not new: lullabies may be the oldest form of music, and are instantly recognisable across peoples and cultures. Why does the night hold such musical fascination for us, and what forms do its sounds take?
Susan Tomes explores the story of the nocturne, and the music of nighttime in the classical tradition. From John Field’s pioneering, lyrical nocturnes composed in the haunting atmosphere of St Petersburg’s midnight sun, to Chopin’s emotionally complex mastery of the form, composers and musicians have endlessly produced music about the night, in which the piano plays a central part. Tomes offers us a rich cultural history of this expressive, often melancholic, fascinating genre—which has gone on to inspire not just musicians but generations of artists and writers.
“I learned a lot, and listened to new things and went back to old things. What more might a music book do?”—Stuart Kelly, Scotsman
“Such a lovely idea for a book, and it’s executed wonderfully.”—Mathew Lyons, Broken Compass
“Susan Tomes is a fine pianist who also writes with elegance, grace and erudition—quite a combination.”—Henrietta Bredin, Country Life
“Beguiling . . . delightful.”—Peter Davidson, Literary Review
“An enchanting, original voyage through musical history via the nocturne; miniature in form, but presaging two centuries of art and thought about night, sleep and dreams. Ingenious, and engaging.”—Dame Judith Weir, former Master of the King’s Music
“‘Nocturnes are like the prefiguring of a dream . . . we feel we are in an enchanted place’—so says the author, magically leading us there in this wonderfully illuminating survey.”—Sir John Rutter, composer and conductor
“From John Field's curtain-free windows in the St Petersburg twilight to Lowell Liebermann's urban dreams in contemporary America, Susan Tomes takes us on a fascinating, fantastical journey of nocturnal enchantment at the piano, and beyond.”—Sir Stephen Hough, pianist and author of Enough
“Susan Tomes takes us on a fascinating journey into the night. Beautifully written, full of intriguing facts and attractively poetic descriptions, this unusual book is sure to be of interest to musicians and music-lovers alike.”—Steven Isserlis, cellist and author of The Bach Cello Suites
ISBN: 9780300278897
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: unknown
368 pages