Prelude No.15 In D flat

Question 1

Which collection of chop ins preludes does it come from?

Answer 1

Op. 28

Question 2

When was it composed?

Answer 2

1839

Question 3

How many preludes are there in total?

Answer 3

24 - 12 major and 12 minor

Question 4

Where was it intended to be performed?

Answer 4

In a small space such as the home, recital room or a small concert hall

Question 5

What is the structure?

Answer 5

Ternary form - ABA

Question 6

What key is it in?

Answer 6

D flat major

A - d flat major
B - C sharp minor (enharmonic tonic minor)
A - d flat major

Question 7

What does sotto voce mean?

Answer 7

Play quietly

Question 8

What does smorzando mean?

Answer 8

Dying away

Question 9

What does slentando or ritenuto mean?

Answer 9

Slow down

Question 10

What is the time signature?

Answer 10

4/4

Question 11

What are two unusual rhythmic features used?

Answer 11

Septuplet and dectuplet

Question 12

What does sostenuto mean?

Answer 12

The piece should be played in a legato, unhurried manner.

Question 13

What does rubato mean?

Answer 13

The pianist plays some notes longer than written and some notes shorter than written - creates a flexible tempo

Question 14

How does the prelude begin?

Answer 14

It begins with a lyrical melody in the right hand

Question 15

How is the opening melody decorated?

Answer 15

With ornaments, such as an acciatura and a turn

Question 16

What happens to the melody in section B?

Answer 16

It moves to the bass
It has a narrower range
Mostly made up of longer notes

Question 17

What is the melody mostly made up of?

Answer 17

Four and eight bar phrases

Question 18

What is the harmony like?

Answer 18

It uses mainly diatonic harmony with occasional chromaticism

Question 19

What cadence ends both section a and b?

Answer 19

Imperfect cadences

Question 20

How does the piece end?

Answer 20

With a perfect cadence

Question 21

What can be heard throughout most of the piece?

Answer 21

A dominant pedal

Question 22

What is the texture like?

Answer 22

Mostly homophonic

Question 23

What is the texture like in section A?

Answer 23

Melody in the right hand

Broken chords in the bass

Question 24

What is the texture like in section B?

Answer 24

Melody is in the left hand
Repeated quavers in the right hand
The pedal is doubled in octaves each time the music builds to a climax
More chordal than section A

Question 25

What is the texture like at the end?

Answer 25

There is a short monophonic passage in the coda

Question 26

What are the dynamics like?

Answer 26

Lots of crescendos and diminuendos
Wide range of dynamics
No sudden contrasts

Question 27

Which parts of the piano does Chopin use?

Answer 27

The middle and lower ranges

Question 28

What does Chopin do with the piano?

Answer 28

Uses it to produce a legato, singing tone

Question 29

What does Chopin use for resonance to create legato melodies?

Answer 29

The sustaining pedal

Question 30

Why is it nicknamed raindrop?

Answer 30

The repeated quavers that sound like raindrops