The Thought of You includes reading of the eponymous prayer followed by beautiful piano music based on original composition of Frederic Chopin. Piano composition includes: Nocturne in E-flat Major, Op. 9 No. 2 — Andante performed by Anton Kingsbury. This is Chopin’s most famous nocturne dedicated to Marie Pleyel. This nocturne resembles the style of Field’s Nocturnes. The nocturne is reflective in mood until it suddenly becomes passionate near the end. The new concluding melody begins softly but then ascends to a high register and is played forcefully in octaves, eventually reaching the loudest part of the piece, marked fortissimo. After a trill-like passage, the excitement subsides; the nocturne ends calmly.
Breathing Deeply in Faith includes reading of the eponymous prayer followed by beautiful piano music based on original composition of Frederic Chopin. Piano composition includes: Nocturne in B-flat Minor, Op. 9 No. 1 — Larghetto performed by Anton Kingsbury. This piece was the first of Chopin's works to be published in France, Germany and England. This nocturne was composed in part in Vienna and completed in Paris. This reflective work immediately confirms the character of the nocturne. The irregularity of the rhythmic patterns is a distinctive feature of Chopin’s style of ornamentation that continues to find varied expression in all his nocturnal works. This piece is dedicated to Marie Pleyel, the wife of publisher and virtuoso pianist Camille Pleyel.
Jesus's Prayer includes reading of the eponymous prayer followed by beautiful piano music based on original composition of Frederic Chopin. Piano composition includes: Nocturne in F-sharp Major, Op. 15 No. 2 — Larghetto. Evocative of the night and reflective of natural sounds of night life, this nocturne will take you into the depths of night magic. It will seduce you with its surreal serendipity and educe almost hypnotic trance towards the end of the tune. Performed by Anton Kingsbury in his collection of Chopin Chillout music. Chopin dedicated this nocturne to Ferdinand Hiller.
Make Us Worthy includes reading of the eponymous prayer followed by beautiful piano music based on original composition of Frederic Chopin. Piano composition includes: Nocturne in G Minor, Op. 15 No. 3 — Lento. Chopin was inspired by Hamlet in composing of this nocturne. The key features of this piece strike with irregularity and unpredictability of the phrasing. It is wistful in its outer sections, with a hymn-like passage at its heart, marked religioso. Chopin attempted to enhance the purity of this passage through careful use the sustaining pedal. The expected return to the opening, however, is replaced by a new idea, also somewhat modal in character. This nocturne is dedicated to Ferdinand Hiller.
David's Prayer includes reading of the eponymous prayer followed by beautiful piano music based on original composition of Frederic Chopin. Piano composition includes: Nocturne in B Major, Op. 32 No. 1 — Andantino sostenuto. Simplicity of this nocturne's opening is contrasted by very dramatic and original ending. This arrangements is illustrative of Chopin's desire to make the music speak. This nocturne's rather characteristic design and melodic contour prepares for the unexpected towards the end. Chopin dedicated this piece to Madame la Baronne de Billing. Performed by Anton Kingsbury.
The Little and the Great Things includes reading of the eponymous prayer followed by beautiful piano music based on original composition of Frederic Chopin. Piano composition includes: Nocturne in G Major, Op. 37 No. 2 — Andantino. A nocturne painted with Chopin's most ethereal brush characterised by beautiful sensuousness, luscious, soft, rounded tones, and not without a certain degree of languor. Something of the warmer Mediterranean climate gently flows into the composer's pen here perhaps reflective on Chopin's stay on the island of Majorca. And example of Chopin's music acting as an aphrodisiac. Performed by Anton Kingsbury.
A prayer of William Penn includes reading of the eponymous prayer followed by beautiful piano music based on original composition of Frederic Chopin. Piano composition includes: Nocturne in C Minor, Op. 48 No. 1 — Lento. An example of progressive music in classical repertoire of Chopin's nocturnal collection. This composition intensifies not through ornamentation, but through a new textural background. Like the unfolding of a tale the middle section is still greater grief told in an agitated recitando; celestial harps come to bring one ray of hope, which is powerless in its endeavor to calm the wounded soul, which sends forth to heaven a cry of deepest anguish. Performed by Anton Kingsbury.
Asa's Prayer includes reading of the eponymous prayer followed by beautiful piano music based on original composition of Frederic Chopin. Piano composition includes: Nocturne in E-flat Major, Op. 55 No. 2 — Lento. This nocturne will awaken longing to get out to feel the fresh breezes and warm sunshine, to see smiling faces and the many-coloured dress of Nature, to hear the rustling of leaves, the murmuring of streams, and voices which have not yet lost the clear, sonorous ring that joy in the present and hope in the future impart. Chopin dedicated this nocturne to Jane Stirling, a devoted pupil. Performed by Anton Kingsbury.
Prayer of Creation includes reading of the eponymous prayer followed by beautiful piano music based on original composition of Frederic Chopin. Piano composition includes: Nocturne in F Major, Op. 15 No. 1 — Andante Cantabile performed by Anton Kingsbury. This beautiful night piano composition starts with calm and serene flow of gentle notes. This peace is followed by a stormy F minor central section purging sudden doubts and worries. An engulfing recapitulation later appeasing the anxiety and restoring the tranquillity. Chopin dedicated this nocturne to Ferdinand Hiller, a German composer, conductor and music director.
Deep Compassion includes reading of the eponymous prayer followed by beautiful piano music based on original composition of Frederic Chopin. Piano composition includes: Nocturne in A-flat Major, Op. 32 No. 2 — Lento. Long, gracious melody with a balletic middle section characterises this nocturne. It is a beautiful work of dreamy melody and majestic harmony. Simplicity of gesture is of the utmost importance throughout the opening section followed by a stormier, more chromatic middle section. Chopin's minimalist gestures of the beginning elope into generous expanding atmosphere of the nocturne's centre. Chopin dedicated this piece to Madame la Baronne de Billing. Performed by Anton Kingsbury.
Day By Day includes reading of the eponymous prayer followed by beautiful piano music based on original composition of Frederic Chopin. Piano composition includes: Nocturne in F Minor, Op. 55 No. 1 — Andante. Chopin's bittersweet nocturnal piece with dramatic and anxious progression culminating in an exciting stretto. Chopin dedicated this nocturne to Jane Stirling, a devoted pupil. Performed by Anton Kingsbury.
I Offer It to You includes reading of the eponymous prayer followed by beautiful piano music based on original composition of Frederic Chopin. Piano composition includes: Nocturne in E Major, Op. 62 No. 2 — Lento. The uneasy start of this nocturne shatters the melody nervously before picking up the broken thread a moment later. The agitation soon subsides, however, giving way to the principal melody. This comes about in a wondrous and beautiful way. The melody returns with greater calm and poise than before the eruption of that inner storm. Chopin dedicated it to Mademoiselle R. de Konneritz. Performed by Anton Kingsbury.
