Prelude No. 15 in D flat Major - Chopin

Question 1

What year was the prelude composed in?

Answer 1

1838

Question 2

What era was the prelude composed in?

Answer 2

Romantic period

Question 3

What kind of melody lines are used?

Answer 3

“Cantabile” - Meaning smooth or singable

Question 4

How are the notes played in the prelude?

Answer 4

Legato and Lyrical

Question 5

What hand is the melody played on in section A?

Answer 5

The right hand

Question 6

What happens in section B?

Answer 6

The melody briefly moves to the left hand, but then returns to the right hand

Question 7

What note is the pedal on? (played by the left hand)

Answer 7

D Flat

Question 8

What does section A feature?

Answer 8

Ornaments

Question 9

To what extent to the dynamics vary?

Answer 9

pp to ff

Question 10

How many crescendos and diminuendos are there?

Answer 10

Many

Question 11

How do the dynamics change throughout the piece?

Answer 11

Starts softly, and is soft throughout section A
Section B starts quiet and crescendos to ff
Dies out towards the end and finishes very softly

Question 12

Describe the texture in section A

Answer 12

There is a broken chordal accompaniment

Question 13

Describe the texture in section B

Answer 13

There is a full chordal accompaniment, with octaves on the right hand

Question 14

Describe the overall texture of the piece

Answer 14

Melody-Dominated Homophony

Question 15

What makes the piece earn the name “Raindrop Prelude”?

Answer 15

Dominant Pedal

Repeated notes

Question 16

What is the name of structure of the prelude

Answer 16

Ternary form (ABA)

Question 17

Describe the form of the piece

Answer 17

A Section
Much longer B section
Shortened A section return

Question 18

What key is section A in?

Answer 18

D Flat Major

Question 19

What key is section B in?

Answer 19

C Sharp Minor

Question 20

How could the two keys be described?

Answer 20

Enharmonic of each other

Question 21

How could the harmony be described?

Answer 21

Mostly simple and diatonic

Makes use of chromatic notes

Question 22

What defines the keys?

Answer 22

Regular cadences

Question 23

How does the music modulate?

Answer 23

Through pivot notes

Question 24

How is the piano used expressively?

Answer 24

Through the soft and sustain pedals and the use of lower register in section B

Question 25

What is the time signature?

Answer 25

4

4

Question 26

What speed is the prelude?

Answer 26

Slow

Question 27

What technique is used rhythmically?

Answer 27

Rubato

Question 28

What mood is the prelude?

Answer 28

Melancholic/ Foreboding