Frédéric Chopin - Piano Prelude Op. 28 No. 15 in D flat major Flashcards
Date of birth / death of Frédéric Chopin
(1810-1849)
Nationality of Chopin
Polish
Romantic period
1810 - 1900 highly expressive / emotional great dynamic range large orchestras piano most popular instrument
Prelude
‘before play’ played before a movement
what is ‘raindrop’ prelude based on
repeated pedal note represents dripping raindrops
sighing motifs suggest melancholy
darker middle section (C# minor) suggests storm
Melody of ‘raindrop’
c
Melody of ‘raindrop’ A section
cantabile melody (singing style) in A section
melody of section A opens with falling motif (sighing)
followed by scalic movement (helps cantabile)
Melody of raindrop B section
less melodic, more chordal
melody on left hand
Rhythm and metre of raindrop
4/4 time
irregular length phrases in A section
Harmony of raindrop
mostly simple diatonic chords
some chromatic notes
every B section phrase ends with imperfect cadence
tonality of raindrop
Overall, the piece is in D flat major. The B section is in C sharp minor. This is enharmonic
dynamics of raindrop
use of crescendos/diminuendos
pedal note
most of piece in piano (quiet)
texture of raindrop
A Sections = Melody + Accompaniment.
B Section = Homophonic (with pedal against the homophonic chords).
structure of raindrop
ternary form : A B A1
unbalanced lengths
instrumentation of raindrop
piano
sustaining pedal