Chopin may have first dabbled in the world of Impromptus in 1834, but it wasn't until six years after his death that his "Fantaisie Impromptu" hit the streets (and eventually inspired the Tin Pan Alley classic "I'm Always Chasing Rainbows"). His earliest published Impromptu was in A-flat Major, written in 1837, the same year he met the one and only George Sand. Dedicated to Countess de Lobau, one of his fancy-pants pupils, it was published in December.

Fast forward to the summer of 1838, and Chopin's health was in serious decline. In a move that would make anyone question his judgement, he decided to spend the damp Parisian winter on the sunny, fresh-aired island of Majorca (which his friends, who had never been there, assured him was delightful). Spoiler alert: it was not delightful. Terrible weather, shabby accommodations, and a distinct lack of a piano meant that by the time he was diagnosed with TB, things were looking pretty grim. But a piano finally arrived from Paris, and by the end of December, Chopin was well enough to start composing again.

The Impromptu No. 2 in F-sharp Major, which was sketched during his unfortunate stay with George on Majorca and completed at her country house in Nohant, has the chill vibes of a nocturne. The opening section has two contrasting melodies, and the central episode is all about a more assertive theme with a dotted-rhythm ostinato in the bass. The big surprise comes at the end, when the opening phrase returns in the unexpected key of F Major, delaying the reappearance of the second theme with some sweeping figurations in the right hand.

Live from the National Concert Hall in Dublin, Ireland, 11th October, 2010. Please comment and share!

Piano: Hamburg Steinway D
Piano Technician: Paul Wade
Recording Engineer: Darby Carroll

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Frédéric Chopin Impromptu no. 2 in F sharp major, op. 36

Archie Chen is a concert pianist, creator, and cultural leader whose music spans from the world’s great stages to the quantum unknown. Praised by the Irish Times for his “daring velocity” and “fiery temperament,” he has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Gewandhaus, and beyond — captivating audiences across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

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