Chopin’s Scherzo No. 2

Frédéric Chopin’s Scherzo No. 2 in B♭ minor, Op. 31 was composed and published between 1835 and 1837, and was dedicated to Countess Adèle Fürstenstein. Robert Schumann compared this scherzo to a Byronic poem, “so overflowing with tenderness, boldness, love and contempt”.

The beginning is marked Presto and opens in B♭ minor. However, most of the work is written in D♭ major. The opening to the piece consists of two arpeggiated pianissimo chords, and after a moment’s pause, goes into a set of fortissimo chords, before returning to the quiet arpeggiated chords.

The piece then goes to an arpeggio section which leads to the con anima. Then, the middle section appears in A major. After the middle section ends (modulating in B flat minor), the first section reappears with a coda.

Listen to Chopin’s Scherzo No. 2

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