Preludes (Chopin) facts for kids
The Preludes, Op. 28 are a set of 24 short pieces of music for a solo piano. A famous composer named Frédéric Chopin wrote them between 1837 and 1838. They were published in 1839, right after he spent a winter on the island of Majorca with his friend, George Sand.
Contents
How Chopin Got His Ideas
Chopin got many ideas for these preludes from another great composer, Johann Sebastian Bach. Bach had also written 24 preludes and fugues in his work The Well-Tempered Clavier. Just like Bach, Chopin made sure each of his 24 preludes was in a different musical key. This means he used every major and minor key.
Arranging the Keys
But Chopin arranged his preludes differently from Bach. He used a pattern called the circle of fifths. This is a way to organize musical keys. For example, the first prelude is in C major. The next is in A minor, then G major, and then E minor. This pattern continues until the very last two pieces, which are in F major and then D minor.
What Makes These Preludes Special?
The Preludes are all very different from each other. Many of them are quite short. They often take only about one minute to play. This means the mood and feeling of the music can change very quickly from one piece to the next.
Performing the Music
Even though they are short, these preludes are often played together. Musicians have recorded the entire set on CDs. They are also often performed in concerts as a complete collection.
Famous Preludes to Discover
Some of the preludes in this collection are especially well-known.
The "Raindrop" Prelude
One very famous piece is Prelude No. 15. It is in D-flat major and is often called the "Raindrop" Prelude. This nickname comes from a single note that repeats over and over in the background music. Early music lovers thought it sounded like raindrops falling.
The Melancholy Prelude
Another well-known piece is Prelude No. 4, which is in E minor. This prelude has a sad or thoughtful feeling. It features chords that slowly move downwards in the background music, creating a melancholy mood.
Other Preludes by Chopin
Besides the 24 preludes in Op. 28, Chopin also wrote three more preludes. One was Op. 45 in C-sharp minor, which he composed in 1841. He also wrote one in A-flat major in 1834. There was also a piece called the "Devil's Trill" Prelude in E-flat minor, but Chopin never finished writing it.
- Woodstra, Chris, et. al. 2005. All Music Guide to Classical Music. All Media Guide, LLC. p. 290. ISBN: 0-87930-865-6.
Images for kids
-
Autograph of the first page of his Prelude No. 15, the "Raindrop"
-
Prelude No. 20 in C minor. This prelude was used as a theme for other musical pieces.
-
Prelude No. 26 (original handwriting)
-
Prelude No. 27 (original handwriting)
See also
In Spanish: Preludios (Chopin) para niños
