Sergei Lyapunov - Nocturne Op. 8 (audio + sheet music)

Sergei Mikhailovich Lyapunov (30 November [O.S. 18 November] 1859 - 8 November 1924) was a Russian composer and pianist.

Lyapunov was born in Yaroslavl in 1859. After the death of his father, Mikhail Lyapunov, when he was about eight, Sergei, his mother, and his two brothers (one of them was Aleksandr Lyapunov, later a notable mathematician) went to live in the larger town of Nizhny Novgorod. There he attended the grammar school along with classes of the newly formed local branch of the Russian Musical Society. On the recommendation of Nikolai Rubinstein, the Director of the Moscow Conservatory of Music, he enrolled in that institution in 1878. His main teachers were Karl Klindworth (piano; a former pupil of Franz Liszt), and Sergei Taneyev (composition; a former pupil of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and his successor at the Conservatory).

He graduated in 1883, more attracted by the nationalist elements in music of the New Russian School than by the more cosmopolitan approach of Tchaikovsky and Taneyev. He went to St. Petersburg in 1885 to seek Mily Balakirev, becoming the most important member of Balakirev's latter-day circle. Balakirev, who had himself been born and bred in Nizhny Novgorod, took Lyapunov under his wing, and oversaw his early compositions as closely as he had done with the members of his circle during the 1860s, now known as The Five. Balakirev's influence remained the dominant influence in his creative life.

In 1893, the Imperial Geographical Society commissioned Lyapunov, along with Balakirev and Anatoly Lyadov, to gather folksongs from the regions of Vologda, Vyatka (now Kirov) and Kostroma. They collected nearly 300 songs, which the society published in 1897. Lyapunov arranged 30 of these songs for voice and piano and used authentic folk songs in several of his compositions during the 1890s.

He succeeded Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov as assistant director of music at the Imperial Chapel, became a director of the Free Music School, then its head, as well as a professor at the St. Petersburg Conservatory in 1911. After the Revolution he emigrated to Paris in 1923 and directed a school of music for Russian émigrés, but died of a heart attack the following year. For many years the official Soviet line was that Lyapunov had died during a concert tour of Paris, no acknowledgement being made of his voluntary exile.

Lyapunov enjoyed a successful career as a pianist. He made several tours of Western Europe, including one of Germany and Austria in 1910-1911. From 1904 he also made appearances as a conductor, mounting the podium by invitation in Berlin and Leipzig in 1907.

(Wikipedia)

Please take note that the audio AND sheet music ARE NOT mine. Change the quality to 480p if the video is blurry.

[xavierassad]

Unlike what most people say here, I think this sounds nothing like Chopin. I adore Chopin's nocturnes, and although I love playing them because they are so beautiful, only Lyapunov's nocturne makes me cry. I suppose that's why he only made one. You can't write something more grand and full of passion and longing than this.

Not only I simply like this piece, I also love how Lyapunov wrote this sheet music in such a way - his way of separating voice parts is very interesting.

[smb]

Reminds me of Sergei Bortkiewicz, the ultra-romantic Russian piano composer.   He also had a great sense of melody and melancholy, lots ot polyrhythms and pieces of sheer poetry.

[JayveeSonata]

This nocturne sounds exactly like Lyapunov (big *smile* inserted here).

[Валентин-кщж]

Свет льётся с небес и растекается по душам и сердцам.

[riccardo]

The beginning remembers Chopin's nocturne 27'2. The key signature, the left hand introduction and some melody passages (like the passage around 1:50 from Db to A major which is exactly what Chopin did in his nocturne although he did not change the key signature), despite Lyapunov's unique style completely separate from Chopin, are incredibly in the "Nocturne mood". Beautiful writing!

[oqueestou]

Listening to this beauty makes me feel like I'm wondering alone at night in my city, feeling depressed but relieved at the same time, looking at the lights far from me from some kind of plant or factory. As I see these lights, I think about the life the should have been but is not

[charlesdavis]

Stunning, absolutely stunning. And just because it's titled a nocturne and very romantic doesn't mean it has to sound like Chopin. Some of you may have listened to Faure's nocturnes. Some of you may be ready to compose a nocturne or two of your own. Listen with fresh ears. Get the wax out. This work stands on its own and doesn't need your "it sounds like". CVD

[ВалентинПлехов]

Гениальное произведение!!! Вызывает прилив энергии и удовлетворения всем, что есть на свете

[samovarmaker]

This is one of, if not THE most beautiful piece ever composed for piano. Right up there alongside Ballade 1 in g minor. Definitely the most underrated.

[nrazz]

I've never heard something quite like this. Eerie, romantic, and beautiful.

[benbroverman]

While it is clear this nocturne was influenced by Chopin's d flat major nocturne, Lyapunov still has his own voice. I really enjoyed this piece

[DavidAndersen]

What a beautiful performance!

What struck me were the fioriture in this piece. They struct me as doing something unique, not only in Chopin but in any other romantic composers. Even in Chopin and Liszt ( most certainly Liszt) there exists a kind of operatic quality to how fioriture is used to vary expression. But here, something modern is getting expressed.

I am trying to put my finger on it, but it is slippery like an eel. It is almost like they are attempting to break away from the melody. I am also thinking the are abstracted from the melody.

Do I sound crazy? Someone, please tell me if I am making any sense at all.

[dionysus]

Es una obra increíble, compleja y con todos los elementos que deja Field y después perfecciona Chopin. El lirismo, la melodía dulce, el caos y el paseo armónico hasta llegar a la plenitud.

[riffraftmusic]

Simply couldn't listen to it only once. Thanks for uploading!

[classical.pianist]

Just as Liadov and Tchaikovsky and Rachy were inspired by Chopin, so was Lyapunov. Makes perfect sense. Most everyone loves Chopin and then begins to dream like him. Ask Mr. Liszt! This Nocturne is a masterpiece, with all credit to Mr. Lyapunov. Bravo!

[pedroreis]

Why the need to always compare? Why not just savor this composer’s gem?

[annimousiki]

Πολυ αισθαντικο νυχτερινο, υπεροχο 🌺🌹🎹🎵

[haydenrouse]

Wow first time I've heard of this composer. Definitely will be looking into him. Love the style

[musicomaniac]

Rather than comparing this to Chopin, I prefer to do so with Blumenfeld. A more direct comparison, if I may so.