Pianist Alice Sara Ott salutes ‘the father of the nocturne,’ John Field

When pianist Alice Sara Ott appears with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Mikko Franck in concerts Sept. 25-28, she will perform two concertos by Maurice Ravel. For a 2025 recital disc for Deutsche Grammophon, she turned to works by another piano master, Irish composer John Field (1782-1837), regarded as the father of the nocturne. Often written for piano, the form evokes a pensive mood, one typically associated with the night or evening. 

“Engaging with Field’s nocturnes was a deeply rewarding experience,” said Ott in the liner notes for “John Field: Complete Nocturnes,” released Feb. 7. “Their beauty and grace affected me profoundly and enriched my life while I was preparing for this album. I hope to share the story of this historically important composer and to encourage listeners to discover the origins of the nocturne. ... I want to take listeners through a vast musical landscape — one filled with playful cascades, unexpected turns and bittersweet melancholia."

The disc is a visual and auditory exploration of Ott’s journey through the music of a nearly forgotten composer. Not only does it mark the first recording of Field’s complete nocturnes on Deutsche Grammophon, but it also is the first Dolby Atmos version of these works. Accompanying the disc is a series of music videos designed to push the boundaries of visual storytelling. Ott also worked with director and acclaimed tenor Andrew Staples to create a 45-minute film that immerses viewers into her imagination and spiritual connection to Field’s music; the result is a glimpse into Ott’s mind during the creative process.

A composer and pianist, Field published his first set of nocturnes in 1814. Field was the first to use the term “nocturne” to denote a character piece for piano, featuring a lyrical melody over an arpeggiated accompaniment. While other composers, notably Frédéric Chopin, wrote nocturnes, Field’s works solidified the genre’s place in piano literature.

Chopin further developed and popularized the genre, which reached its zenith with his 19 works in the form. While acknowledging his gratitude to Field, Chopin brought his own unique style and virtuosity to the nocturne. Though Field’s works are not as widely performed today as Chopin’s nocturnes, his role in the development of the form is undeniable. He influenced icons such as Brahms, Liszt, Mendelssohn and Schumann, all of whom owe a debt to Field.

Field applied the singing quality that he brought to his pianism to the pieces he christened “nocturnes,” after the Italian word notturno, Beyond nocturnes, Field also composed piano concertos, which also were influential, particularly on Chopin and Franz Liszt.

Born in Dublin in 1782, Field studied in London with Muzio Clementi and became known as a virtuoso pianist while also working for Clementi as a piano builder and salesman. In 1802, Field accompanied Clementi on a trip to Russia. Establishing a successful career as a performer, teacher and composer, Field remained based in Russia and died in Moscow in 1837. After his death, Field’s legacy began to wane and his works faded from the repertoire.

During his lifetime, though, Field made an significant impact on popular culture. For instance, in Leo Tolstoy’s epic War and Peace, Countess Rostova calls on the Rostov household musician to play her favorite nocturne, which is by Field.

Field’s nocturnes had an instant attraction for Ott. “I can still remember how the melody in the right hand [of Nocturne No. 1] had something nostalgic and familiar about it,” she said. “It was as if I had known it since my childhood. ... Here, after all, is the man who bequeathed the nocturne to posterity."