AOS1 Chopin Flashcards
What is Chopin famous for?
Being a romantic composer for piano music
What inspired this prelude?
A heavy rainstorm that he could hear dripping on the roof of the monastery
When was this piece written?
Between 1835-1838
What key is the piece in?
Db Major
What structure does the piece have?
ABA form (ternary form)
What key is the B section in?
C# Minor
What is the overall texture of the piece?
Melody and accompaniment (Homophonic)
What is the piece an example of?
Programme music (it describes something)
What romantic piano techniques does he use?
Rubato, Cantabile and careful use of the pedals on the piano, particularly the sustain pedal
What are the markings in section A?
Sostenuto (sustained) and Piano (soft)
Which hand has the melody in section A?
The right hand
The main tune starts with 3 notes of the main chord, what are the 3 notes?
F, Db, Ab
A decoration called ACCIACCATURA is used, what is this?
Crushed note
What is the pedal note that is used throughout?
Ab ( the dominant)
There are some CHROMATIC notes used, why?
To make the harmony more interesting/to add colour
At the end the Ab becomes written as G#. This is the same note but we call it?
Enharmonic change
What is the purpose of the enharmonic change?
To lead the piece into C# Minor for the Section B.
What key is the B section in?
C# Minor
How has the mood of the piece changed?
It’s more dramatic and has a dark mood (Minor key)
Which region of the piano is used in the B section?
The lower region
In which hand is the tune being played in section B?
Left
What’s being played in the right hand?
G# pedal note
In section B the tune is in the left hand with a G# PEDAL NOTE in the right hand. What’s the fancy name for this?
An INVERTED DOMINANT PEDAL
A wide range of what are used?
Dynamics
G# is used at the end of section B as what to go back into Db Major.
G# is used as a PIVOT NOTE
What is different about the second section A from the first one?
The second one is much shorter
One marking that is used in section A (2nd one)?
Smorzando
What does Smorzando mean?
Dying away
There is a codetta, how many bars is it?
8 bars
In the codetta the pedal note drops out, then starts up again. How many bars does it drop out for?
2 bars
How does the piece end?
PIANISSIMO (very quiet) with a PERFECT CADENCE
