Chopin- Raindrop Prelude Analysis
Musical Analysis of…
Chopin’s Prelude in Dᵇ Major
Op.28, no. 15
Genre/Style
Chopin’s prelude in Dᵇ is from the romantic period, which began in the late 18th/early 19th century. Composers like Chopin were at the forefront of this change in music, developing the writing and playing of solo piano, orchestral and opera works and how music was performed. There were many composers from this era that were very well known, especially in their later years, or after their deaths: Liszt, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Verdi, Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Strauss are just a few of the better known ones. There was a lot of experimentation at the start of the period therefore changes in how composers wrote and played melodies, harmonies and rhythms were enormous, creating some characteristics by which romantic pieces can be identified. Some of these characteristics are: * Very expressive- dynamic contrast in both the written and interpreted music; * Melodies with complex rhythms were the main emphasis with rich harmonies under it; * Complex use of chords as an accompaniment to the melody; * Emotional- has a story to tell if played with feeling- use of rubato allows expressiveness; * Use of major and minor keys- often modulating into the enharmonic equivalent, major or minor, or the dominant. Characteristics that identify it as belonging to this style
There are several main characteristics that identify this prelude as a romantic piece. The most obvious one is that it is a prelude by Chopin, who was a composer from the Romantic period. The dynamic and expressive markings both on the sheet and in performed interpretations are very pronounced, especially in the melody which is the main emphasis - the left hand (or right hand in the start of section B) is meant just as an accompaniment, but must still be expressive, articulated and provide just as much emotion as the melodic line. The accompaniment is complex and uses arpeggios and chords while maintaining the
Chopin’s Prelude in Dᵇ Major
Op.28, no. 15
Genre/Style
Chopin’s prelude in Dᵇ is from the romantic period, which began in the late 18th/early 19th century. Composers like Chopin were at the forefront of this change in music, developing the writing and playing of solo piano, orchestral and opera works and how music was performed. There were many composers from this era that were very well known, especially in their later years, or after their deaths: Liszt, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Verdi, Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Strauss are just a few of the better known ones. There was a lot of experimentation at the start of the period therefore changes in how composers wrote and played melodies, harmonies and rhythms were enormous, creating some characteristics by which romantic pieces can be identified. Some of these characteristics are: * Very expressive- dynamic contrast in both the written and interpreted music; * Melodies with complex rhythms were the main emphasis with rich harmonies under it; * Complex use of chords as an accompaniment to the melody; * Emotional- has a story to tell if played with feeling- use of rubato allows expressiveness; * Use of major and minor keys- often modulating into the enharmonic equivalent, major or minor, or the dominant. Characteristics that identify it as belonging to this style
There are several main characteristics that identify this prelude as a romantic piece. The most obvious one is that it is a prelude by Chopin, who was a composer from the Romantic period. The dynamic and expressive markings both on the sheet and in performed interpretations are very pronounced, especially in the melody which is the main emphasis - the left hand (or right hand in the start of section B) is meant just as an accompaniment, but must still be expressive, articulated and provide just as much emotion as the melodic line. The accompaniment is complex and uses arpeggios and chords while maintaining the