Piano Nocturne No. 1

Composed in 2024 by Irish composer and cellist Ailbhe McDonagh, Piano Nocturne No. 1 is the lead single from an upcoming suite of five solo piano nocturnes, written with the generous support of Fingal County Council. The track will be released across all music streaming platforms on Friday, 6 November 2026. Rooted in the lyrical tradition pioneered by Dublin-born composer John Field in 1812 and later expanded by Frédéric Chopin, the piece offers a refined contemporary addition to the solo piano repertoire. Written for professional-level performance, it captures the tranquil yet enigmatic atmosphere of the night, exploring themes of solitude and quiet introspection through an expressive melodic line and rich harmonic contours. Recorded by McDonagh in early 2026 at Hellfire Studio in County Dublin, the session was engineered by Grammy Award winner Ben Rawlins. The result balances warm acoustic resonance with crystalline clarity, bridging Ireland's historical classical heritage with contemporary lyrical stillness. The sheet music for this piece can be purchased below. Streaming links will be published here on Friday 6 November 2026.