Description
Heavy chords advance one step at a time through just thirteen bars. The twentieth of the 24 Preludes, Op. 28, it is known as the "Funeral March", a later nickname rather than Chopin's own title. Its harmonic progression drew later composers strongly: Rachmaninov took these thirteen bars as the theme of his Variations on a Theme of Chopin, Op. 22, and built more than twenty variations on them.
There is no melody as such: in C minor and common time, both hands move in chords in the same rhythm. The bass descends to the lowest C on the keyboard while the upper voices stay in the middle register, giving a heavy, thick sonority. The same progression is repeated twice at different dynamics before dying away.
With no technical obstacles, it is approachable at beginner level. The work is entirely in how the chords are sounded: making every note speak together while letting the top voice come marginally forward, and not hurrying the space between one chord and the next. Take a fresh pedal for each chord. Here the quality of the performance rests on the sounding of a single chord.
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
What this piece teaches
Prelude Op. 28 No. 20 in C minor. There is no melody as such: chords in both hands advance one step at a time in the same rhythm. The lesson is the sound of a chord, and changing the pedal with each one.
How to practise it
- Sound every note of the chord together, with the top note marginally stronger. Check them one at a time at 0.5x.
- Change the pedal on every chord. Check the timing in the pedal indicators, so nothing of one chord lingers into the next.
- The same progression is repeated at a different dynamic. Decide in advance how much quieter the repeat will be.
Practice guides using this piece
Reading the falling notes, and practising with them
What the position, length, colour and brightness of each falling note mean, plus the guide lines, the pedal display and the switch to sheet music.
Preparing and opening your own MIDI file
Where to find MIDI files you may use, what makes a file work well here, how the player treats tracks, pedal and channel volume, and fixes for common problems.
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.
View all works by Chopin →