Nocturne A flat

Maria Agata Szymanowska (1789-1831) The Woman Whose Music Inspired Chopin Maria Agata Szymanowska (1789-1831) The Woman Whose Music Inspired Chopin Polish pianist and composer, Maria Agata Szymanowska was a woman of firsts. She was one of the first professional virtuoso pianists touring extensively throughout Western Europe. She dared to perform for memory years before Franz Liszt and Clara Schumann and created a unique artistic persona by wearing a decorated turban while giving concerts. In her compositions she introduced many innovative keyboard techniques new to piano writing. She composed Nocturnes and Concert Etudes introducing them to Polish audiences years before Chopin. According to Szymanowska scholar, Slawomir Dobrzański, “her compositional style had an obvious impact on (Chopin’s) mature musical language.” Her stature as a performing artist and composer prompted the Russian Imperial court to appoint her “First Court Pianist “ to the Empress of Russia.” A position confirmed with a gift of precious jewels. Szymanowska’s Nocturne in A flat major titled “Le Murmure” (The murmuring) reflects a popular early 19th century poetic theme evoking streaming brooks or rustling leaves.—the gentle undulating sounds of nature. As you will hear, her nocturne is an obvious predecessor of Chopin’s “Aeolian Harp” Etude in A flat. Op 25 No. 1.