Chopin

Question 1

Melody

Answer 1

• Melody is in the right hand for section A and left hand for section B
• Lyrical melody which is decorated with ornaments (acciacaturas and turns)
• Melody is mostly in four 8-bar phrases
• Rubato is used to convey expression
• ‘Sostenuto’ meaning ‘sustained’ give the instruction to perform the piece with a legato, unhurried manner

Question 2

Rhythm

Answer 2

• Time signature is 4/4 ‘C’ (common time)
• Unusual rhythmic feature of septuplet in bars 4 and 23 – seven notes of equal length are played in single crotchet beat

Question 3

Texture

Answer 3

• Mainly Homophonic
• Melody in section A is in the right hand – broken chords are played in the left hand
• Melody in section B is in the left hand – repeated quavers (dominant pedal) is in the right hand
• When section A returns there is a short monophonic passage in the coda

Question 4

Instrumentation

Answer 4

• Piano
• Uses mainly the middle and lower ranges of the piano
• This is NOT an example of Chopin’s virtuoso writing for piano
• Piece is legato and plays a singing tone
• Sustain pedal is used for resonance
• Wide range of dynamics

Question 5

Genre

Answer 5

• Romantic Piano Music
• Romantic era: 1825 – 1900
• Romantic music conveys emotions, tells stories and paints musical pictures
• Composer during this time were freer to develop their own personal styles, and virtuoso performers such as Liszt and Paganini became celebrities
• Orchestras during this time expanded

Question 6

Tonality

Answer 6

• Section A is in Db major
• Section B is i9n C# minor (which is the tonic minor)
• Dominant pedal is used in most of the piece – repeated Abs in section A and repeated G#s in section B

Question 7

Structure

Answer 7

• Ternary Form

* ABA

Question 7

Harmony

Answer 7

• Sections A and B end with IMPERFECT cadences. The prelude ends with a PERFECT cadence
• Dominant pedal can be heard throughout the prelude