Area of Study 1: Setwork 3

Chopin Piano Prelude in Db Major (Raindrop)

Area of Study 1: Setwork 3

Who was Chopin?

Area of Study 1: Setwork 3

Who was Chopin?•Born in Poland in 1810•Died in Paris 1849•Virtuoso pianist•Romantic composer famous for piano music

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 monasteryThis piece was written between 1835 – 1838 as part of a set of 24 preludes.

What main info do you need to know about the Chopin piece?

• Key? • Structure? • Texture? • What is it an example of?

What main info do you need to know about the Chopin piece?

• Key? In the key of Db Major• Structure? The structure is ABA form (Ternary

form)• The B section is in C# Minor• Texture? The overall texture is melody and

accompaniment (Homophonic)• This piece is an example of programme music,

which means it describes something.

The piano…

• The piano was really developing in the Romantic era.

• What clues do we have in the piece of music that point to it being a piece of Romantic piano music?

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