Description
This bright miniature is the most untroubled piece in the collection. It is No. 11 of the 24 Preludes, Op. 28, and its place between the minor-key No. 10 and the turbulent No. 12 sharpens that brightness further.
Over a lightly springing 6/8 pulse the right hand sings a rising melody while the left supports it in broken chords. The B major harmony is clear and hardly ever darkens. Lasting a little over thirty seconds, with a four-octave span and some 320 notes, it is one of the more manageable pieces in the set.
Though listed as intermediate, it has almost nothing technically difficult in it. The task is to feel the 6/8 in two large beats rather than counting six, and to sustain the phrases. Keep the left-hand accompaniment light and even and let only the right hand sing. It is short, so decide where its summit lies before playing — otherwise it merely passes by.
A set of 24 short pieces Chopin composed in 1838-39, covering all 24 keys, each with its own distinct character — a poetic cycle for piano.
Browse all songs in 24 Preludes Op.28 →Sheet Music
Sheet music provided by Mutopia Project
About the Composer
Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)
Frederic Chopin was born in Poland and made his career in Paris, remaining unusual among great composers for writing almost exclusively for piano. He poured his longing for his homeland into mazurkas and polonaises, while his ballades and etudes combine poetic melody with harmonic innovation. This site includes the "Revolutionary" and other etudes, Ballades No. 1 and No. 4, nocturnes, and the Preludes, Op. 28.
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