AREA OF STUDY 1
Chopin: Piano
Prelude in Db
Major (Raindrop)
AREA OF STUDY 1
Who was Chopin?
• Born in Poland in 1810
• Died in Paris 1849
• Virtuoso pianist
• Romantic composer
famous for piano music
Prelude in Db Major (Raindrop)
• In 1838 he went to
Majorca and ended up
staying with his lover in a
deserted monastery in a
place called Valldemossa.
•He composed this
Prelude inspired by a
heavy rainstorm that he
could hear dripping on
the roof of the monastery
Prelude in Db Major (Raindrop)
• This piece was
written between
1835 – 1838 as
part of a set of 24
preludes.
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
THE CHOPIN PIECE?
• In the key of Db Major
• The structure is ABA form (Ternary form)
• The B section is in C# Minor
• The overall texture is melody and accompaniment
(Homophonic)
• This piece is an example of programme music,
which means it describes something.
IT USES THE FOLLOWING ROMANTIC
PIANO TECHNIQUES:
• Use of RUBATO – speeds up or slows down very
slightly to make it more expressive
• CANTABILE – the melody is played so that it ‘sings
out’ on the piano and uses a smooth sound
(LEGATO)
• Careful use of the pedals on the piano, particularly
the sustain pedal on the right.
SECTION A
• Markings are SOSTENUTO (Sustained) and PIANO
(soft)
• Right hand has the melody
• Texture is MELODY-DOMINATED HOMOPHONY
• Main tune starts with 3 notes of the main chord F –
Db – Ab falling.
• A decoration called ACCICCATURA (crushed note)
is used
SECTION A (CONTINUED)
• The pedal note used throughout the piece is Ab
(the dominant).
• A new, second theme adds variety.
• There are some CHROMATIC notes used to make
the harmony more interesting (add colour).
• At the end the Ab becomes written as G#. This is
the same note but we call it ENHARMONIC
CHANGE. This leads the piece into C# Minor for
Section B.
SECTION B
• In the Key of C# Minor
• More dramatic and dark in mood (Minor Key)
• Lower region of the piano used.
• Homophonic texture throughout
• Tune is in the left hand with a G# PEDAL NOTE in the right hand.
This is called an INVERTED DOMINANT PEDAL
• Wide range of DYNAMICS used.
• G# is used at the end as a PIVOT NOTE going back into Db
Major.
SECTION A AND CODETTA
• The second section A is much shorter than the first.
• Uses the marking Smorzando, which means ‘dying
away’
• Short 8 bar CODETTA where the pedal note drops
out for 2 bars and then starts up again
• Ends PIANISSIMO (very quiet) with a PERFECT
CADENCE
An ornament – ‘a crushed note’ played as
quickly as possible before the main note.
‘in the singing style’; the melody is
to be played legato.
A three part structure in ABA form in which
the opening A section is repeated at the end
and middle B section provides contrast.
A sustained (or repeated) note(s) as the
highest part in a musical texture.
Period of music from 1830-1900, in
which music expressed emotion.
Composers: Chopin, Liszt, Wagner,
Berlioz etc….
The notes of a chord played one
after the other, instead of together.
Music which tells a story, evokes
ideas or images.
Literally means ‘robbed time’ –a
technique where the player can pull back
(or speed up) the tempo for expressive
effect.
A sustained (or repeated) note(s) on
the dominant note of the key.
A note/selection of notes used to
add ‘colour’ that do not belong to
the key.
A note common to both keys used to
pivot between 2 different keys, i.e. Ab in
Db major is also G# in C# minor.
A sustained (or repeated) note(s) in
the middle of a musical texture.
NOW LOOK AT THE SCORE AND IDENTIFY AND DEFINE THE SIGNS OR SYMBOLS OR
KEYWORDS LISTED
TIME SIGNATURE
KEY SIGNATURE SYMBOL FOR QUIET
PEDALLLING SYMBOL TEMPO MARKING CRESCENDO DECRESCENDO
This is a typical section B question from your
listening exam
•
1. Which musical device is used throughout this piece?
•
2. In which century was this piece written and to which period of
Western musical history does it belong?
(2)
•
3.Comment on how CHOPIN uses the following musical elements in
his PRELUDE in Db major
STRUCTURE
TONALITY
INSTRUMENT
DYNAMICS
MELODY
(1)
(10)
AREA OF STUDY 1
Chopin: Piano
Prelude in Db
Major (Raindrop)