Download Area of Study 1: Setwork 3

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 monastery
This 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?
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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
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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