John Field: Complete Nocturnes

The Father of the Nocturne

When we say “nocturne,” we think of Chopin. But did you know that, before Chopin, a composer had already created this form?

That composer is the Irish composer John Field. It was he who invented the nocturne—that beautiful, lyrical form of piano music.

And this album by Alice Sara Ott is a complete recording of Field’s nocturnes—the complete gems of the “father of the nocturne.”

The Beauty Before Chopin

Field’s nocturnes are the most beautiful piano nocturne tradition before Chopin.

They are not as dramatic, not as intense, as Chopin’s. They are more plain, more gentle, carrying an early, pure beauty.

Field’s melodies are simple and flowing; those ornaments and songlike melodies directly inspired the later Chopin.

Ott’s Interpretation

Alice Sara Ott is the soul of this album. The German-Japanese pianist has toured with Field’s nocturnes as a theme in recent years.

Her interpretation preserves the purity and simplicity of Field’s music, while giving it a modern warmth and sensibility. She makes these “old” nocturnes sound fresh and moving.

Even while living with illness, Ott continues to perform—this persistence and love of music gives her playing added expressiveness.

Why Listen

This album was named a 2025 pick by The Guardian—the best way to get to know the “father of the nocturne.”

If you love Chopin’s nocturnes but have never heard their source, this album returns you to where it all began. It is a beautiful album suited for late-night listening, letting the soul settle.

Further Listening

If you love this kind of lyrical piano music, Lisiecki’s Preludes and Andsnes’s Liszt Via Crucis are both piano albums worth hearing.