Continuation of the elements of music to consider
Rhythm and metre
As Chopin was a A highly skilled performer. performer, his music was written with many exciting flourishes. Here are some of the rhythmic features:
- use of septuplets note groupings in section A (seven semiquavers are played in the time of four)
- when the same melody is repeated in section A1, it is decorated with ten semiquavers instead of seven
Extracts of the septuplet in the A section followed by the variation in section A1.
- implementation of dotted rhythms in section A to include Rhythm patterns where stressed notes are placed off the beat.
- section B is mainly even quavers and crotchets
Instrumentation and timbre
- the prelude was written for a solo piano
- the technology of the piano sustain pedal
Texture
- Sections A and A1 consist ofA type of texture where there is only one clear melody and an accompaniment that plays different notes and rhythms but is supporting the melody.
- Section B is A texture based on chords.
- Section A1 has two bars of unaccompanied melody - bars 82 and 83 - and A texture consisting of a solo musical line. texture before the coda
Tonality and harmony
Remember the following points for these two elements of music:
- the overall A pattern of sharps or flats at the beginning of a piece of music indicating which are to be played. is D鈾 major
- in section B the music A change of key. to the new key of C鈾 minor - the When notes sound the same but are spelt differently eg, Db is equal to C sharp. of D鈾
- a repeated Held or repeating note on the same pitch, while the chords change above it. in the opening bars that sounds like raindrops (on A鈾) - this is repeated in section B (on G#)
An excerpt from section B of the right hand of the piano playing a pedal on G#
The opening two bars excerpt of the application and release of the pedal.
- the opening two phrases end with an A type of cadence where the chords played are chord I then V. The sound of this cadence makes the phrase sound unfinished. and A type of cadence where the chords played are chord V then I. This progression sounds complete. respectively
- the first rendition of section A ends with an imperfect cadence
Dynamics
The Romantic period was a time when many composers began writing with dramatic changes in volume. Chopin was no different and Prelude No.15 contains the following dynamics:
- section A is marked piano (p)
- Chopin adds A gradual increase in loudness in a piece of music. and The music gradually gets quieter. to accentuate the natural phrasing
- section B is initially marked Voice spoken/sung quietly.
- the repeated G鈾 notes in section B crescendo until reaching Shortened to ff when written in the score. It means to play the music very loud. (ff) at bar 40
- there is a The music gradually gets quieter. for two bars at 72, which leads directly into section A1 marked p
- in bar 79 the performer is directed to employ a smorzando (the music gradually dies away) - the final eight bars begins as Shortened to f when written in the score. It means to play the music loud. (f) and concludes at or pp. A dynamic level that means to play the music at very soft volume. (pp)