Chopin's Prelude #15 Flashcards
Where would this piece typically be performed?
A small space such as in a home, a recital room or a small concert hall
When was this piece composed?
1839
Describe the structure of this piece
It’s in ternary form (ABA). The A is in Db major with a lyrical melody accompanied by quavers in the bass. This section has it’s own ABA structure. The B is in C# minor it contrasts the first section. The melody is in the bass and the quavers are heard above it. The music climaxes to ff a couple of times. The last A section is a repeat but shorter with a brief coda.
Why is this piece nicknamed Raindrop prelude?
The repeated quavers that can be heard throughout sounds like raindrops falling steadily.
What does * stand for?
Release of the sustaining pedal
What does sotto voce stand for?
Play quietly like a musical whisper
What does smorzando stand for?
Dying away
What does slentando/ritenuto stand for?
Slow down
Describe the rhythm,metre and tempo
The time signature C is the same as 4/4 time (4 crotchet beats per bar). One unusual rhythmic feature is the septuplets (4+23) and the dectuplet. This piece is in sostenuto which means sustained so the piece should be played in a legato, unhurried manner. Rubato (some notes longer or shorter than written) creating a flexible tempo for expressive effect. Repeated quavers are a unifying rhythmic feature throughout the piece. The melody begins with a dotted rhythm. This is repeated in A to give it a lighter feel than B.
Describe the melody in this piece
It begins with a lyrical melody in the right hand. It’s decorated with ornaments eg. acciatura/turn. This melody features dotted rhythms and chromaticism. In B the melody moves to the bass and has a narrower range as it’s made mostly of longer notes. The prelude is mostly made up of 4/8 bar phrases.
Describe the tonality and harmony of this piece
The prelude is in Db major and uses mainly diatonic harmony with occasional chromaticism. It modulates from the tonic major to the enharmonic tonic minor. A+B both end in imperfect cadences but the prelude ends with a perfect cadence. A dominant pedal can be heard throughout the piece. (Ab in A and G# in B)
Describe the texture of this piece
It’s homophonic except the two bars towards the end. A has a right hand melody supported by broken chords in left hand. B has left hand melody with repeated quavers in the right hand. The pedal is inverted for much if this section. It doubled in octaves each time the music builds to a climax. The section is more chordal than A. There is a short monophonic passage in the coda.
Describe the dynamics of this piece
Use of crescendos and diminuendos. Wide range of dynamics (pp to ff) but no sudden contrasts. A is quieter than B which climaxes to ff twice.
Describe Chopin’s use if the piano
The prelude mostly uses the middle and lower ranges of the piano. The piano writing is not virtuoso in character. Chopin concentrates on the pianos ability to produce a legato, singing tone. There is use of the pianos wide dynamic range with much use of crescendos and diminuendos. The sustaining pedal is used for resonance to help create legato melodies.
