It was John Field (1782-1837; Dublin-Moscow) who coined the title Nocturne and composed eighteen of them, a precursor to Chopin’s collection, which may be of greater worth but Field’s examples are tuneful, charming, easeful and gracious, with one, the Twelfth, being an attractively quirky earworm. Alice Sara Ott plays them with style and affection, without inflation while sensitively marrying melody and decoration, nicely recorded and presented. She has a field day on DG 486 6238, a release also attracting vinyl, a two-LP set (486 6239).
Nocturne No.12, orch. Hamilton Harty (A John Field Suite). Ulster Orchestra/Bryden Thomson (Chandos).