Prelude in D♭ major 'Raindrop', Op. 28 No. 15

F. ChopinOp. 28 No. 15

Key

Db

Time

C

Tempo

♩=60

AO focus

AO2

Form

Sostenuto — ABA. Repeated A♭ in the inner voice (the 'raindrop') runs through the entire piece, switching from RH (A section) to LH (B section, in C♯ minor / enharmonic D♭).

Teaching points

• Repeated note as ostinato — the A♭ is the only constant; the harmony around it shifts
• Enharmonic centre — A section in D♭ major, B section in C♯ minor (same pitch)
• AO3: programmatic interpretation — Chopin denied the 'raindrop' association but it stuck. Discuss