F. Chopin: Prelude No.15 in D flat major,

Op.28(also known as the ‘raindrop’ prelude)

AIMS - In the study of this set work you will learn about:

The Romantic period and the main hallmarks of the style

Some background to the life and works of Frederic Chopin

The ‘prelude’

ABA (ternary) form

How the prelude is constructed, through an analysis of the music

The key features of the music

The Romantic Era (c. 1800 – 1900)

Piano Prelude No.15 in D flat major, Op. 28

Known as the ‘Raindrop’ prelude

The piece is by Chopin

The Romantic Era (c. 1800-1900)

An era reflecting an interest in ideas inspired by

nature magic the supernatural mystery‘Romantic’ music is concerned with expressing

a intense feelings and emotionsMusic from this time often tells a story.E.g. “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” by Dukas

The Romantic era (c. 1800-1900)

Some famous ‘romantic’ composers were

Liszt Wagner ChopinBerlioz

Features of the Romantic style

The music often tells a story (Programme music)Long, sustained melody lines. In piano music,

extensive use of sustaining pedal helps build the sound.

Chromatic harmony; Use of a wide range of chords and chromatic harmony.

Musical structures tend to be freer and less symmetrical than in the classical style

Contrasts in keys, melodies and dynamics are often very dramatic

What is a Romantic Prelude?

A short piece, often for piano....

...that sticks to one or two

ideas or moods....

....it generally features a small

number of rhythmic and

melodic motifs

that recur through the

piece....

....and has an improvisatory

feeling like someone telling a

story

Frederic Chopin

Born in Poland in 1810

Studied music as a pianist and composer

Travelled widely in Europe giving concerts.

Composed music to play to the public at his concerts

He composed mainly solo pieces for the piano

Died at age 39 in 1849.

Frederic Chopin

Moved to Paris –

Had a succession of love affairs

9 year relationship with

Aurore Dudevant

Had poor health -

tuberculosis

Frederic Chopin

1838 – moved to Majorca for

health reasons

Frederic and Aurore went to live in an old monastery at Valdemossa

He wrote the ‘raindrop’ prelude at Valdemossa ....

......during a storm

Raindrop Prelude

The title of the piece refers to the dripping of raindrops from the roof

of the monastery.

These are represented by the continuously repeating As in the first section and the continuously repeating

G#s in the middle section

A A A A A ..........

Raindrop Prelude – Basic Points

Metre/Time signature - The prelude is in 4/4 time

Structure – the movement is in ABA form (ternary form) with a short codetta

Raindrop Prelude – Basic Points

Texture - is mainly homophonic, mostly melody and accompaniment.

Use of sustaining pedal to hold on notes = press pedal down and hold = release pedal

Raindrop Prelude – Basic Points

Tonality/Key- The first section of the prelude is in the key of D flat

major (5 flats). The middle section of the piece is in C# minor (4

sharps) The end of the piece returns to D flat major (5 flats). The piece uses some chromatic notes in the melody The piece uses a wide range of chromatic chords. Prelude ends with a perfect cadence in D flat major.

Raindrop Prelude – basic points

Tempo – The prelude is marked sostenuto (sustained). It is basically played slow throughout The player is expected to play with use of rubato

style This means the piece is played with a slight

speeding up and slowing down within the basic slow tempo of the piece (for expressive effect)

There is a slight pause on the first note There is a pause on each of the last few notes The music slows down at the end (Ritenuto)

Raindrop Prelude – Basic Points

Dynamics – The first (A) section is quiet (p).

The middle (B) section starts quietly, then gradually crescendos to very loud (ff)then gets softer (dimenuendo) . These dynamics repeat and then...

the ending (A and Codetta) is very quiet (pp)

Structure of ‘Raindrop’ prelude

Section Key Length

A (bars 1-27) D Major 27 bars

B (bars 28-75) C# minor (tonic minor)

47 bars

A (bars 75 -81) D Major 6 bars

Codetta (bars 81-89)

D Major 8 bars

Ternary form

A B A + Codetta

Mood swings?

Section Mood

A (bars 1-27) Quiet, sad, calm, peaceful. /Major keyThe calm before the storm? Repeated A flats representing raindrops? • The pitch of the notes are quite high in this section.• Quiet dynamics (p)• Melody played mainly in the right hand.

B (bars 28-75)

Music becomes more stormy, angry, violent / minor key

• Melody played mostly in the left hand now.• Pitch of notes starts quite low• Repeated G# s get gradually louder – raining harder?• cresc. = crescendo - Storm approaching?• Texture becomes more dense. • The music builds in intensity twice to ff (height of

storm?) before starting to become more peaceful. Storm passing?

A (bars 75 -81)

Returns to a more quiet peaceful mood like at the start. Light rain?

Codetta (bars 81-89)

Repeating notes stop at bar 84 – sun coming out for a moment ?Piece slows down at the end and finishes pp.

Tasks

Page 45. Answer questions 1-10 in full sentences