Chopin - Raindrop Prelude Flashcards
What instrument is this piece composed for? [1]
Piano
When was this piece composed? [1]
Accept any of the following:
A year between 1810 - 1899
Romantic Era
Nineteenth Century
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.
(i) Legato
(ii) Ternary
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.
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
Describe the dynamics in Section B (from 2.26-3.24) [3]
• starts (very) soft/quiet/piano/p/mp/pp • then diminuendo/dim • crescendos/builds to forte/f/fortissimo/ff / loud (very loud) • dims towards end
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
B - Legato
E - Sustain pedal
What is the structure of this piece?
ABA
Ternary form
After the second A section, what is there?
A coda (coda is 6 bars long)
Is section A as long the second time?
No, section A is shortened on return
Is section B long or short?
(disproportionately) Long - 47 bars
What key is section A in?
D flat major
What key is section B in?
C sharp minor
What is the relation between the keys from section A and section B?
They have an enharmonic relationship
Does the music modulate to related or unrelated keys?
Unrelated keys
for example A flat major
In section A’s melody what is used?
Ornaments
Is the melody played staccato or legato?
Legato
What does the motif in the melody do?
Fall
It is a falling motif
What is the texture in the codetta?
Monophonic
What is the accompaniment in section A?
Broken chords
What is the accompaniment in section B?
chords
What is the overall texture of this piece?
Homophonic
texture and chords
What does the dynamics vary from in this piece?
Varies from pp - ff
Dynamics wise - what are there lots of?
Lots of crescendos and diminuendos
What is the marked dynamic for section A throughout?
P
Dynamics wise - What does section B do?
It builds up/crescendos to ff
What is the raindrop note in section B?
G#
what key is the coda in?
D flat major
what era was this piece written in?
Romantic era
name 3 romantic features
- use of pedal
- often long, slow melodies
- rich harmonies
- rubato
- large dynamic range (as piano developed and became bigger in the romantic era)
Where would a prelude typically been played?
home, small concert halls, or in a recital room.
What 4 parts of the piano were developed in the romantic era and how?
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)
what does rubato mean?
expressive shortening of some notes and lengthening of others
What is the metre of this piece?
4/4
What dynamic is this piece noted in at the beginning
p - this is maintained throughout section A
Where does this piece reach ‘ff’
section B - it then drops down to P and crescendos again
what is the texture of this piece?
Homophonic
except monophonic for 2 bars at the start of the coda
How is the texture thickened in louder sections of this piece?
by octave doubling in both hands
What key does this piece start and end with?
D flat major
when section A returns, tonality why what is it ?
a little more chromatic
In section B (in C#minor), what other keys does it pass through?
G# minor and F# minor
