Prelude No.15 in D Flat Major - Raindrop - Chopin Flashcards
Name some of the romantic features..
Richer harmonies
Often long, slow melodies
Musical structures expanded
Rubato (not strictly in the playing time)
What are the symbols for
‘Press the pedal’ and ‘release the pedal’
Leo
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What is it structure?
Ternary form - ABA - section lengths are not equal, when section A returns before the Coda, we only hear 8 bars of the original theme.
What is the pieces tonality?
Section A - D flat major
Section B - C# Minor (tonic minor) explores other keys too.
Section A - D flat major
Coda - D flat major
Outline the harmony in the piece..
- Raindrop notes are dominant pedals - hear them at the start, the A flats in the left hand, and in the middle.
- Dominant pedal is very clear in section B - repeated quaver G#s
- Passes through G# minor and F# minor in section B.
- When section A returns it’s slightly more chromatic
What are the key features of the timbre and texture?
- Entirely Homophonic (apart from two monophonic bars at the start of the coda)
- In the A sections; texture consists of melody and accompaniment = generally thin.
- B section texture is more chordal and generally lower. Inverted pedal (hands playing melody and pedal switch)
- In the louder parts the texture is thickened by octave doubling in both hands.
What are the key dynamics?
- All through section A it’s marked P.
- Dynamics are soft, sotto voice, and gradually build in section B.
- Reaches ff - continues to drop to P then crescendo.
- When returning to section A, it’s soft. Also marked smorzando. Ends pp.
What are the key features of the Melody and pitch?
- Opening melody starts with notes from the tonic triad.
- Melody is in right hand for section A, swaps the hands for section B.
What is the tempo and rhythm of this piece?
- Slow, 4/4
- Rubato is used - shortening some notes, lengthening others.
- Notes are augmented
- Sostenuto = sustained
- Rit. = getting slower
