1. GCSE Music AOS1 – Western classical music 1600 - 1899
Romantic Music
F. Chopin
Piano prelude no.15 in Db major, op.28

2. Background information
Frédéric Chopin was born near Warsaw, Poland in 1810 and died in Paris He made a name for himself as both a virtuoso pianist and composer. During his time in Paris, he socialised with people such as Liszt and Berlioz as well as influential writers of the time.

3. Background information
Chopin’s piano music reflects his love of Poland using Polish folk melodies and dance rhythms (think of the polonaise). Chopin, at the latter part of his life, became poorly and developed tuberculosis. It was suggested that he (accompanied by his lover Aurore Dudevant) should move to a warmer climate to improve his condition.

4. Prelude no.15
As the inhabitants of Majorca were scared they were going to catch his illness, he was exiled along with his lover to a deserted monastery in Valldemossa. During his time there, he wrote his prelude no.15, otherwise known as the ‘Raindrop’ prelude. Chopin was inspired by a heavy rainstorm that he could hear dripping on the roof of the monastery. The prelude is one of a set of 24 preludes Chopin composed during

5. Prelude Structure
The piece is loosely based on ternary form but the sections are unbalanced.
Section
Bar Numbers
Key
Length A
1-27
Db major
27 bars B
28-75
C# minor
(tonic minor)
47 bars
76-81
6 bars
Codetta
82-89
8 bars

6. Section A Bars 1-27
Markings are SOSTENUTO (Sustained) and PIANO (soft).
Right hand has the melody.
Texture is MELODY-DOMINATED HOMOPHONY.
Main tune starts with a falling motif F – Db – Ab (falling raindrops). The falling motif is a common feature from Renaissance time representing sadness, melancholy and grief.
A decoration called ACCICCATURA (crushed note) is used

7. Section A Bars 1-27
The pedal note used throughout the piece is Ab (the dominant).
A new, second theme adds variety (introduced bar 8).
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.

8. Section B Bars 28-75 In the Key of C# Minor, the TONIC minor.
More dramatic and dark in mood (Minor Key).
Lower region of the piano used.
Homophonic texture throughout.

9. Section B Bars 28-75
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.

10. Section A Bars 76-81
The second section A is much shorter than the first.
Uses the marking Smorzando, which means ‘dying away’.
In bar 80-81, the broken off repeat of the opening theme, gives effect of dream-like fading away.

11. Codetta Bars 82-89
Short 8 bar CODETTA where the pedal note drops out for 2 bars and then starts up again.
Last 6 bars are based on the tonic and dominant chords of Db (Db and Ab).
Ends PIANISSIMO (very quiet) with a PERFECT CADENCE.

12. Key terminology
ACCIACCATURA – an ornament sometimes known as a crushed note and is played as quickly as possible before the main note.
DOMINANT PEDAL – a sustained/repeated note on the dominant note of the key.
INNER PEDAL – a sustained/repeated note in the middle of a musical texture.

13. Key terminology
INVERTED DOMINANT PEDAL – a sustained/repeated note as the highest part in a musical texture.
PIVOT NOTE– a note common in both keys and is used to pivot between 2 different keys.
i.e. Ab (in Db major) is also G# (in C# minor).