Prelude Flashcards
What century was the piece composed in
19th
What style is it
Romantic
8 key features of romantic music
- expressive feeling
- longer developed melody lines
- freedom in form and structure
- chromatic , discordant harmonies
- strong dynamic contrasts
- development of the piano
- rubato
- peddle notes
Key
D flat major
Meter
Commonly 4/4
Structure
Ternary form
ABA coda
Tempo
Rubato
Varies
Instrument used
Solo piano
Rhythm 3 key points
- septuplets and dectuplets used (7/10 notes in 1 beat )
- repeated quavers
- dotted rhythms
A section
Key & cadence
- d flat major (tonic)
- imperfect cadence
B section
Key & cadence
- c sharp minor (enharmonic minor)
- imperfect cadence
A section (again) Key and cadence
- d flat major (tonic)
- perfect cadence
Texture
A section
- homophonic
- melody in RH
- broken chords in LH
- pedal note of A flat in LH
Texture
B section
- homophonic
- melody in LH
- chordal in RH
- pedal note of G sharp in RH is doubled in octaves
Texture Section A (again)
- homophonic
- melody in RH
- broken chords in LH
- pedal note of a flat in LH
Texture
Coda
- monophonic for 2 bars , then homophonic
- melody in middle of texture
- sustained chords in LH and RH
- dominant pedal heard through piece
2 key points on the dynamics of the piece
- wide range of dynamics but no sudden changes
- section A quieter than section B
Melody
Section A
3 key points
- melody RH
- many dotted rhythms
- light feel
Melody
Section B
3 key points
- melody in LH
- uses mainly crotchets and minims
- darker feel
Melody
End of section B
3 key points
- melody in RH
- pedal note is an “inner pedal” in the middle of the texture
- bass notes in octaves
What happens to the first three notes in section a
They are falling ( cantabile tone) into a broken chord
What 2 harmonic devices is used in section a
- Acciaccatura
- chromatic notes ( to make it more interesting )
Describe the enharmonic changes in the piece
SA=Db major ~ Ab is written as G# to lead to…
SB=C# minor ~ G# is a pivot to go back to Db major
Describe dynamics section B in two ways
- use of crescendos
- dynamics build up with change of mood
What is used at the end of the piece
Ritt
How long is the coda
8 bars long
Towards the end of the piece what does the melody use
Smorzando
How long does the pedal note drop out for towards the end
3 bars
What are the dynamics towards the end of the piece
Pianissimo
