Chopin - Prelude No.15 in Db Major (Raindrop)

4/4 time signature throughout. Dotted rhyth, in main motif. Mostly crotchet and minim simple rhythms.

Ternary form. Section A: Bars 1-27, Section B: Bars 28-75, Section A: Bars 75-81, Codetta: Bars 81-89. Drastic contrasts between two sections; major to minor.

Expressive use of dynamics as per romantic style. Begins piano, gradual crescendos and diminuendos. Climax at bar 40 - fortissimo.

Opening Motif:

Opening of Section B:

Composed during the Romantic Era. Chopin - virtuoso pianist. (1810-1849.) The piece was written at a deserted monastery in Majorca during a storm. Prelude is a brief 'opening' piece - comes from a collection of 24 preludes that Chopin wrote between 1835-1839.

A section: melody dominated homophony. B Section: homophonic again, but much fuller and robust sound achieved through left hand chords.
Brief monophonic texture in bars 82&83 - mini cadenza style phrase.

Db major: A section, C# minor (tonic minor): B section. Brief modulations to other keys (E major in B section).

Mostly simple diatonic harmony, chord I, V7. Occasional chromatic notes. Use of dominant pedals - (bars 64-67).

Main tune is characterised by falling motif - F - Db - Ab. Melody often moves stepwise. Ornamentation - such as acciaccaturas, septuplets. Raindrop represented by Ab (A section) G# (B section). Section B: Four bar phrases, choral like melody in left hand part.

Piano solo - makes use of cantablie legato playing (in a singing style, smoothly). Rubato - literally means robbed time. Expressive use of the sustain pedal.

No tempo marking on score - crucial stylistic feature is rubato - where the piece slows down and speeds up expressively depending on the interpretation of the performer. Reasonably slow tempo overall - around 76bpm.