Chopin- Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major

Question 1

Where was Chopin born?

Answer 1

Poland

Question 2

When was Chopin born?

Answer 2

1810

Question 3

When and where did Chopin die?

Answer 3

Paris, 1849

Question 4

Where did Chopin make a name for himself, and where did he then move to?

Answer 4

Vienna, he moved to Paris

Question 5

How many bars long is Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major?

Answer 5

89

Question 6

In Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major, which bars are ‘Section B’?

Answer 6

28-75

Question 7

In Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major, what follows Sections A and B?

Answer 7

A repeat of ‘Section A’ from 76-80, and a coda from bars 81-89

Question 8

What type of structure does Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major have?

Answer 8

A clear structure- it’s in ternary form

Question 9

What key is ‘Section A’ of Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major in?

Answer 9

Db major

Question 10

What key is ‘Section B’ of Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major in?

Answer 10

C# minor

Question 11

Enharmonically, what is C# minor in relation to Db Major?

Answer 11

The tonic minor

Question 12

Why is Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major called the ‘raindrop prelude’?

Answer 12

Because of a repeated quaver Ab in the left hand part (Which changes to a G# when the key changes to C# minor)

Question 13

What does ‘Section A’ in Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major introduce?

Answer 13

The ‘Raindrop’

Question 14

What is Chopin’s Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major marked?

Answer 14

Sostenuto

Question 15

What does the ‘sostenuto’ marking in Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major mean.

Answer 15

Not just sustained, although it does mean that. It also means a slow, held back tempo.

Question 16

Why does the pianist in Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major do to sustain the notes?

Answer 16

They use the pedal a lot.

Question 17

When does the ‘raindrop’ note start in Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major?

Answer 17

The first bar

Question 18

How long does the first melodic phrase in Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major last?

Answer 18

Four bars.

Question 19

What dynamic marking does the first phrase of Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major have?

Answer 19

Piano.

Question 20

What makes the start of the melody of Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major like raindrops?

Answer 20

Because the first three notes of the melody are descending, like raindrops.

Question 21

What happens in bar three of Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major?

Answer 21

The melody is harmonised in sixths

Question 22

What is the ornament in bar four of Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major?

Answer 22

It’s a written out turn.

Question 23

Is the turn played in the fourth bar of Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major played again in the eighth?

Answer 23

No.

Question 24

When does the second melodic idea of Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major start?

Answer 24

In bar 8

Question 25

What is the second melodic idea in Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major followed by?

Answer 25

A variation of the tune

Question 26

From bars 14-20 in Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major, which note is the ‘raindrop’ note played on, as opposed to the Ab it was on.

Answer 26

F

Question 27

What key is Section B ofPrelude No. 15 in D flat Major in?

Answer 27

C# Minor

Question 28

How is the melody of section B played?

Answer 28

In crotchets in the bass part, underneath the raindrop notes.

Question 29

What does sotto voce mean?

Answer 29

In an undertone

Question 30

How does Chopin start to build up the texture in bar 35 of Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major?

Answer 30

The raindrops are doubled in octaves which makes it feel powerful.

Question 31

At bar 43 of Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major, what happens dynamically?

Answer 31

It drops down to piano

Question 32

Why is Section A of Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major different to Section B?

Answer 32

Section A is consistently piano, with no accents, and Section B is varied in dynamics

Question 33

Although Section B of Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major is in C# minor, which other keys does the harmony pass through?

Answer 33

G# minor and F# minor.

Question 34

In bar 76 of Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major, what happens to the key?

Answer 34

It returns to Db major

Question 35

How does Chopin suggest that the piece is coming to an end in the Repeat of section A of Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major?

Answer 35

He uses the term ‘smorzando’ which means ‘dying away’

Question 36

What happens in bar 81 of Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major?

Answer 36

The melody is cut short to make way for the coda

Question 37

When does the coda start in Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major?

Answer 37

The last beat of bar 81

Question 38

In bars 81-83 of Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major, what is important about the melodic line?

Answer 38

They have the highest notes of the prelude, and are the only bars not accompanied by the ‘raindrop’ notes

Question 39

What are the dynamics in the coda of Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major?

Answer 39

It starts forte, drops down to piano and then the final tow bars are pianissimo

Question 40

What happens at the end of the piece?

Answer 40

It slows down with a gentle ‘ritenuto’.