nocturne
pronunciation
How to pronounce nocturne in British English:
UK [ˈnɒktɜ:n]
How to pronounce nocturne in American English:
US [ˈnɑktɜrn]
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- Noun:
- a pensive lyrical piece of music (especially for the piano)
Word Origin
- nocturne (n.)
- 1851, "composition of a dreamy character," from French nocturne, literally "composition appropriate to the night," noun use of Old French nocturne "nocturnal," from Latin nocturnus (see nocturnal). The style and the name are said to have originated c. 1814 with Irish-born composer John Field (c. 1782-1837), who wrote many of them, in a style that Chopin mastered in his own works, which popularized the term. But his work seems to have been appreciated in German and French publications before it came to attention in England in 1851.
Example
- 1. One week later , he bring me sample of nocturne .
- 2. As the sun began to rise , the music shifted to a lyrical nocturne , and hundreds of birds began to chatter in the surrounding trees .
- 3. When I played chopin ` s nocturne or waltz to them , those who were too shy to talk to me suddenly became active and began to share with me about their dreams .
- 4. This happens to be a nocturne .
- 5. The concert closed with a nocturne by chopin .