Raindrop Prelude
The Raindrop Prelude is one of the most famous of Chopin’s preludes, and for good reason. It tells the story of a rainstorm through stunning musical imagery that allows the listener to feel the storm through the piano. One truly feels like they are in the midst of a storm, from a gentle, delicate rain shower to an intense, thunderous middle, to the eventual parting of the clouds and the sun peeking through.
Storms, in my opinion, are excellent shows of conflict and struggle, and they can strongly affect a person. Often times we feel as though we are in the midst of our own storms, fighting our way out with thunder and lightning striking all around us. Through the Raindrop Prelude, this is also felt with the recurring melody the makes up the body of the piece. Ultimately, though, we are reminded that storms do not last forever, eventually melting away back into a flowing rain, and finally with the clouds parting and the sun shining through.
This piece requires much attention to dynamics in order to truly capture the feeling of the storm. The middle section in particular must ensure that the repeating G sharps are not so loud that they overwhelm the thunder. It is a lovely, surprisingly therapeutic piece to play, and I spent many hours enjoying this one.
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GooglePicture This photo absolutely represents a thunderstorm. That could lead someone to think that everything one hears would be loud and dramatic. However, the story you told in your introduction explains the progression of the storm, so we understand the quiet, subdued aspects of the music as well. Introduction This was a captivating introduction to a famous piece. You correlated the form of the piece to your photo, so this enhanced our… Read more »
Hello, Lola. Lovely and relaxing music. I love it. Good job.
Thank you, Lotchie! I’m glad you enjoyed. 🙂
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To Leave Comments - Please SignIn with GoogleWhat a great piece, Lola, and what a great presentation. I remember when I was in high school eons ago how much I loved playing this piece. You’ve really caught the energy of the storm with your dynamics and your incessant Ab/G# drip drip of the raindrop. I enjoyed your intro – especially when you talked about our own storms! That’s one reason to play music – to be able to express… Read more »
I would like to start off and say that bravo for such a wonderful performance! I absolutely adore this piece and you played it very beautifully. You have a very sensitive touch to the piano keys that really shines in this pieces. You played it delicately, and attentively, and musically. I also loved your dynamics which really made the music beautiful. I could hear the soft pitter patter of rain in the… Read more »