Nocturne in C-sharp minor

Hi long time for no posting! I decided to post an old work of mine.This Nocturne in C-sharp minor is a juvenile work of me as a 16 year old. I didn't think much at the time of composing, but I did write in the style of Chopin Nocturne then. And then a sudden thought caused me to have a 1st try in fugue in 2:35! I revised the work recently to improve on some voice leadings and transitions except passages after the fugato, but retained as much the original intention as I can as a 16 year old then. The work, even though as immature as it is, does reflect some of my feelings then.

Here is the Youtube video and the score of the piece:

(Final Draft) Nocturne in C sharp minor.pdf

This work can be regarded as in a rondo structure:

0:00 1st part(A), typical Chopin Nocturne texture. Don't know why I modulated the music to F major but the music did so himself...

0:58 2nd part(B) Main melody in F major, but with a new b motive in b.31-32

1:35 3rd part (A') The main melody in the original key can't wait to enter... Gets more agitated and cools down.

2:35 4th part (B'). A fugato using motive b as subject and main melody as episode, modulates once more to F major

3:57 Last part and coda (A''): The A section returns with some registeral change, then gets more agitated. 4:29 is the climax of the piece which is my favourite too, I like the agitation in it. 4:47 starts the coda and finally the mood cools down and ends in tonic major.

I played the recording myself. I do make one major slip in 3:22 but the recording is otherwise good enough for me. Feel free to leave comment below!

Henry

This is incredible. So inspired and perfect structured. Well done my dear Henry. 👏

2 hours ago, Vasilis Michael said:

This is incredible. So inspired and perfect structured. Well done my dear Henry. 👏

Thx Vasilis!

Henry

Wow! The piece unfolds and reaches climax quite effectively. I can totally see how the music itself demanded a modulation to F major there lol—and it works great! 
The fugato section was a nice touch with theme A as the episode and theme B as the subject.

I like how the climactic section cools down with plagal harmonies iv—I, gives a bittersweet aftertaste to all the previous agitation. That’s why the decision to end it on the major version of the tonic was a good choice.

Such a competent and fluent work! 

Awesome Henry! I bet 16 year old Henry couldn't play like this recording 😄 

Well done, it's good to hear music from you again!

11 hours ago, ComposedBySam said:

Wow! The piece unfolds and reaches climax quite effectively. I can totally see how the music itself demanded a modulation to F major there lol—and it works great! 
The fugato section was a nice touch with theme A as the episode and theme B as the subject.

I like how the climactic section cools down with plagal harmonies iv—I, gives a bittersweet aftertaste to all the previous agitation. That’s why the decision to end it on the major version of the tonic was a good choice.

Such a competent and fluent work! 

Thank you Sam! I don't know why the 16 year old Henry decided to modulate to F major at that time but looks like it work! I do like the climactic section, it's the section I revise a bit since the 16 year old Henry only left drafts in it lol!!

Henry

8 hours ago, Thatguy v2.0 said:

Awesome Henry! I bet 16 year old Henry couldn't play like this recording 😄 

Well done, it's good to hear music from you again!

Haha thx Vince, you are right that the 16 year old Henry couldn't play this at all, nor could he finish the whole piece! I just feel somewhat bored while having no output for several months despite lots of input, so I chose this one to rework!

Henry

My Brotha, Henry

A very talented 16yo you must have been, in writing this work. There were so many musical ideas I couldn't accomplish/think of at that age, since I still remember trying to write my sonata in the style of Mozart. Perhaps, this will be inspiration for me to revisit and revise a few of my old melodies. As for your work, the main melody is quite memorable, and I especially enjoyed the F major variation of it. My only main concern is the incomplete fugue; I think the subject you have has a lot of potential, do consider extending it into a fully fledged fugal variation, I'm sure it will sound superb!

Another thing I've noticed in this work is that it showcases quite a few modern touches, including the quick switch between neopolitan and dominant harmonies + occasional pentatonicism.

On 10/7/2025 at 3:25 PM, Mooravioli said:

My Brotha, Henry

A very talented 16yo you must have been, in writing this work. There were so many musical ideas I couldn't accomplish/think of at that age, since I still remember trying to write my sonata in the style of Mozart. Perhaps, this will be inspiration for me to revisit and revise a few of my old melodies. As for your work, the main melody is quite memorable, and I especially enjoyed the F major variation of it. My only main concern is the incomplete fugue; I think the subject you have has a lot of potential, do consider extending it into a fully fledged fugal variation, I'm sure it will sound superb!

Another thing I've noticed in this work is that it showcases quite a few modern touches, including the quick switch between neopolitan and dominant harmonies + occasional pentatonicism.

Thx bro!

I don't know why I wrote like this then but I did. The fugato is quite an unsuccessful attempt; I was not that good at counterpoint then! If this piece is written by me now, I would defintitely cut the whole fugato section out since it is totally unnecessary to retain it. For the harmonies, when I wrote those neapolitan harmonies I didn't even know the term "Neapolitan Sixrh" lol!

Henry

Hey @Henry Ng Tsz Kiu!

Glad to hear you managed to finish one of your juvenilia!  There are many features of this composition that I really like.  Many have already mentioned the Neapolitan 6th which you apparently didn't even know about at the time of writing this.  I don't know if it's common to prepare the N6 with it's own dominant 7th like you have here (A7), which I really like.  Also - very cool and foreshadowing use of different divisions of the beat - freely transitioning from triplets to 16th notes.  Also - there's some really cool variations of the main melody in the left hand (the Meno Mosso at m. 134).  The crossing of the hands to bring the melody into the bass register is also really creative.  It just shows that even as a really young Henry, your musical instincts were innovative and refined.  I'm surprised that upon revising this work you didn't expand the fugato section into something more substantial.  It's something I keep thinking of doing for my 10 Variations on a Gypsy Theme.  The fugue variation there is really stunted and incomplete too.  Nice ending in C# major and with a plagal cadence.  Overall, a really great piece - thanks for sharing!

Very Good Job On This Piece! You Even Played It! Congrats!