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When most people think of nocturnes, the name Chopin typically springs to mind. But behind those poetic, moonlit piano works lies a quieter influence: Irish composer John Field, the true originator of the form. Now, thanks to a new album from Deutsche Grammophon, Field’s full set of 18 piano nocturnes is getting the attention it’s long deserved — performed by none other than pianist Alice Sara Ott.
Released on February 7, the album marks a rare full-length exploration of Field’s nocturnes, a collection Ott describes as "light, but in a very profound and intimate way."
Ott recalled how she first encountered Field’s music during the second COVID-19 lockdown. “I wanted to put together a playlist with nocturnes and then just stumbled across these nocturnes by John Field,” she said. “I knew that there was this composer who had invented the nocturnes — I probably picked that up during my study times — but his music was never really part of my musical upbringing.”
Listening for the first time, she was struck by a deep sense of déjà vu. “They sounded familiar and somewhat nostalgic, and almost as if I had known them since my childhood,” she said. “It was a really bizarre experience, but I got super obsessed with this music.”
Field’s nocturnes are often deceptively simple, but Ott found hidden depths within them. “He keeps surprising you with unexpected turns in rhythm and harmonies,” she explained. “He touches very briefly moments of sadness, of agony, of joy — but releases you with a light heart. That was something I found very fascinating.”
She also noted Field’s flair for improvisation, describing him as “a great performer” who wrote with a keen understanding of the instrument. “He has these high basic chords and then he starts this improvisational ornamentation in the right hand, and he does it in a way no other composer is able to do.”
Although Field was once a well-known figure — a student of Muzio Clementi and an influence on Franz Liszt — his name has largely faded from public consciousness. That, too, makes this new recording feel like a rediscovery. “It almost feels like you are premiering a new piece,” Ott said of performing the works live.
She recently toured Europe with a program pairing Field’s nocturnes with Beethoven sonatas — an unexpected combination, but one rooted in historical reality. “They are both contemporaries,” she said. “John Field was born ten years after Beethoven and died ten years after. But when I say John Field, people very often think he’s a contemporary composer.”
The contrasts and connections between the two composers intrigued her. “They both had a significant influence on music history. But one of them is this immortal existence today — and the other one is forgotten.”
Ott worked closely with Deutsche Grammophon on the project, contributing not just her playing but also writing the liner notes and helping shape the album’s visual identity. “I’ve been with Deutsche Grammophon for more than 15 years,” she said. “I get very involved with everything. I’m very lucky that I get to work with a team that supports me, that takes risks with me, but also gives me the creative space I need.”
Ott says the goal is to bridge the past with the present. “For me, it’s always important to not only honour the past, but also to think about how to make this music resonate now, within the context of the world we live in.”
Above all, she hopes listeners walk away with a renewed appreciation for Field. “I hope they rediscover this wonderful composer, this wonderful music — and get back to the roots of the nocturne.”
This is a remarkable recording that uncovers these 18 pieces of spun gold written by Field. Alice Sarah Ott’s expressive touch is perfect for this music, and the intimacy and reflectiveness of each of the nocturnes is perfectly captured with perfect pacing and tempi. This is music recorded by a pianist who was born to play this music.
This recording will surely catapult John Field’s music back into the spotlight. If you love Chopin our simply, just stunningly beautiful music, take a glimpse at the musical tree, that inspired Chopin...and get lost in the exquisite world of John Field.