Chopin was introduced by his teacher Josef Elsner to several composers, and among them we find John Field, whose Nocturnes inspired Chopin to compose for this genre. Though Field was the 'inventor' of the Nocturne, it is Chopin who took the name and the general concept of a dreamy melody over a broken chord accompaniment, relying on liberal use of the sustain pedal and the offset of a contrasting middle section before a reprise of the opening material, and made it famous in the piano literature. The Nocturnes, though not lacking in occasional flashes of drama and virtuosity, are predominantly lyrical, poetical and dreamy.
3 Nocturnes Op.9
Dedication: A Madame Camille Pleyel
3 Nocturnes Op.15
Dedication: A Monsieur F. Hiller
2 Nocturnes Op.27
Dedication: A Madame la Comtesse d'Appony
2 Nocturnes Op.32
Dedication: A Madame la Baronne de Billing; née de Courbonne
| Nocturne in B major Op.32 No.1 | 5:22 | Hawkins, C. |
| Nocturne in B major Op.32 No.1 | 5:15 | Hart, M. |
| Nocturne in B major Op.32 No.1 | 4:55 | Kaidja, L. |
2 Nocturnes Op.37
| Nocturne in G minor Op.37 No.1 | 6:28 | Hart, M. |
| Nocturne in G minor Op.37 No.1 | 6:49 | Höjer, O. |
| Nocturne in G major Op.37 No.2 | 6:03 | Welch, L. |
2 Nocturnes Op.48
2 Nocturnes Op.55
Dedication: A Mademoiselle J.W.Stirling
2 Nocturnes Op.62
Nocturnes Op. 72
| Nocturne in E minor Op.72 No.1 | 4:55 | Hart, M. |
| Nocturne in E minor Op.72 No.1 | 4:11 | Anatone, R. |
| Nocturne in E minor Op.72 No.1 | 4:48 | Simionescu, R. |
Nocturnes Op. posth.
