Chopin - Raindrop Prelude

Question 1

What instrument is this piece composed for? [1]

Answer 1

Piano

Question 2

When was this piece composed? [1]

Answer 2

Accept any of the following:

A year between 1810 - 1899
Romantic Era
Nineteenth Century

Question 3

Circle the correct words to complete the following statements. [2]

(i) The performer plays this piece in a [legato / staccato] style.
(ii) The complete prelude is in [rondo / ternary] form.

Answer 3

(i) Legato

(ii) Ternary

Question 4

Identify two similarities and two differences between the end of Section A and the beginning of Section B. [4]

Similarities:

1 .

2.

Differences:

1.

2.

Answer 4

Any two SIMILARITIES:
• same metre
• same tempo
• similar dynamics
• both havea homophonic texture
• expressive use of pedalling
• sameinstrumentation
• use of pedal point
• repeated quavers / notes
• same tonic
• 4 bar phrasing
• legato 

Any two DIFFERENCES:
• melody in right hand (section A) / left hand in B
• section A is (Db)major / section B is (C sharp) minor / Change key
(tonality)
• melody in A has a larger range
• melody in B is lower in pitch/in bass
clef
• A has broken chord style
accompaniment / B is chordal (chorale like)
• B has a more dramatic mood than A
• Ornamentation in A but not in B
• Pedal note in right hand / inverted
pedal

Question 5

Describe the dynamics in Section B (from 2.26-3.24) [3]

Answer 5

• starts (very) soft/quiet/piano/p/mp/pp
• then diminuendo/dim
• crescendos/builds to forte/f/fortissimo/ff / loud (very
loud)
• dims towards end

Question 6

Which two of the following are used in Section B (from 2.26-3.24)? [2]

A Glissando
B Legato
C Pizzicato
D Staccato
E Sustain pedal

Answer 6

B - Legato

E - Sustain pedal

Question 7

What is the structure of this piece?

Answer 7

ABA

Ternary form

Question 8

After the second A section, what is there?

Answer 8

A coda (coda is 6 bars long)

Question 9

Is section A as long the second time?

Answer 9

No, section A is shortened on return

Question 10

Is section B long or short?

Answer 10

(disproportionately) Long - 47 bars

Question 11

What key is section A in?

Answer 11

D flat major

Question 12

What key is section B in?

Answer 12

C sharp minor

Question 13

What is the relation between the keys from section A and section B?

Answer 13

They have an enharmonic relationship

Question 14

Does the music modulate to related or unrelated keys?

Answer 14

Unrelated keys

for example A flat major

Question 15

In section A’s melody what is used?

Answer 15

Ornaments

Question 16

Is the melody played staccato or legato?

Answer 16

Legato

Question 17

What does the motif in the melody do?

Answer 17

Fall

It is a falling motif

Question 18

What is the texture in the codetta?

Answer 18

Monophonic

Question 19

What is the accompaniment in section A?

Answer 19

Broken chords

Question 20

What is the accompaniment in section B?

Answer 20

chords

Question 21

What is the overall texture of this piece?

Answer 21

Homophonic

texture and chords

Question 22

What does the dynamics vary from in this piece?

Answer 22

Varies from pp - ff

Question 23

Dynamics wise - what are there lots of?

Answer 23

Lots of crescendos and diminuendos

Question 24

What is the marked dynamic for section A throughout?

Answer 24

P

Question 25

Dynamics wise - What does section B do?

Answer 25

It builds up/crescendos to ff

Question 26

What is the raindrop note in section B?

Answer 26

G#

Question 27

what key is the coda in?

Answer 27

D flat major

Question 28

what era was this piece written in?

Answer 28

Romantic era

Question 29

name 3 romantic features

Answer 29

- use of pedal - often long, slow melodies - rich harmonies - rubato - large dynamic range (as piano developed and became bigger in the romantic era)

Question 30

Where would a prelude typically been played?

Answer 30

home, small concert halls, or in a recital room.

Question 31

What 4 parts of the piano were developed in the romantic era and how?

Answer 31

pedals - became more effective piano size - it got bigger (wider dynamic range) hammers - given a felt covering instead of leather (so the tone was softer and rounder) strings - made thicker and longer (creating a fuller tone)

Question 32

what does rubato mean?

Answer 32

expressive shortening of some notes and lengthening of others

Question 33

What is the metre of this piece?

Answer 33

4/4

Question 34

What dynamic is this piece noted in at the beginning

Answer 34

p - this is maintained throughout section A

Question 35

Where does this piece reach 'ff'

Answer 35

section B - it then drops down to P and crescendos again

Question 36

what is the texture of this piece?

Answer 36

Homophonic | except monophonic for 2 bars at the start of the coda

Question 37

How is the texture thickened in louder sections of this piece?

Answer 37

by octave doubling in both hands

Question 38

What key does this piece start and end with?

Answer 38

D flat major

Question 39

when section A returns, tonality why what is it ?

Answer 39

a little more chromatic

Question 40

In section B (in C#minor), what other keys does it pass through?

Answer 40

G# minor and F# minor