Chopin, Prelude, Op. 28, No. 6 in Bm

[rachfan]

This is a melancholy prelude, but also a mini-etude in "contour dynamics", that is, the cresc. and decresc. effect as the melody rises and falls throughout the piece.

[rafant]

Very nice, as all what you submit here. Do you know that this prelude is also considered a "raindrop" prelude, as it's the No. 15? For that reason I choose to stand out a little more the repetitive notes of the right hand.

[rachfan]

Hi Rafant,

Thanks for the kind words!  To be honest, I was unaware that this piece is also known as a "raindrop prelude" although the right hand does certainly have an ostinato character, so I can see the parallel there. 

When I first started playing this piece, I was mindful that it is quite overplayed, so I made some basic decisions on my concept of execution.  While the RH notes that you point out do have forzando accents, in general I chose to still consider the RH to be background.  While giving at least sufficient accents there to the first notes in the slurs, I wanted to give greater emphasis to the LH line, being melodic and very much in the foreground.  My intention in the RH was more to bring out those slurs using an extremely relaxed, flexible wrist.  As for the LH, I wanted to feature the rise and fall contour of the the cantabile and its accompanying cresc./decresc. effect and use that as the main focus of the work.  I can also see, however, where your different treatment of the RH could be beneficial too, and create a little different sound overall.  Sometimes a different sound in a piece can be very interesting, as long as it is within general bounds of performance practices.  I'm reminded in that sense of Rachmaninoff's Prelude, Op. 32, No. 1 (posted on an earlier page.)  It became apparent to me early on that I could not play the piece like Richter--no surprise there!!!  Yet I developed a different sound which I still found very satisfying.  Thanks for the idea on this prelude!       

[joemon]

   I hate to be rude but this is not the raindrop prelude. The raindrop prelude is No. 15. The piece you played is in fact No. 6. You were riht the whole time. I don't know the opus, because my prelude book only lists the numbers.

   I think you played the prelude very, very good. I would speed it up a tiny bit. And maybe make my left hand a little stronger than my right hand.

   P.S. Reading you're reply to Rafant, I'm guessing you know tons about music, or you at least sounded really smart. Just thought I should give you that comlement.

   Also, try playing these following Chopin pieces, Prelude No. 15 (Raindrop Prelude), Nocturne No. 19, and any other Chopin Nocturne (some are way too hard though)
 These are easy pieces that sound great. In my opinion the prelude you played isn't too intresting. It's not that you played it bad, it's just not my favorite Chopin piece.

   

[rachfan]

Hi joemon,

Thanks for your comments!  When I read Rafant's remark, he said "a raindrop prelude", not "the Raindrop Prelude", which, we all agree is No. 15.  So I don't believe there was any mixup in the numbering.  All of the Chopin Preludes are Op. 28.  I have to admit, the Bm Prelude is not my favorite either, so I'm with you there.  Plus, it's overplayed.  You might have missed it, but I posted 12 of the Chopin Preludes.  I also put the Etude Op. 10, No. 6 in E flat minor there.  If you like Chopin, you might like some of those selections better.  My recording of the Raindrop, incidentally, is slower than many people play it.  I had to do it that way to comply with my teacher's direction at the time, which is when I recorded it.  If I were to do it now, I'd speed it up a bit.