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Romantic · prelude

Prelude in Op. 28, No. 13

Frédéric Chopin · Level 7, estimated · With Maestro

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The short answer

A prelude in a collection shaped over several years. Prelude in Op. 28, No. 13 is a prelude by Frédéric Chopin from the Romantic era. PlayPiano puts it at Level 7, an estimate.

On this page
  • prelude
  • Romantic
  • dreamy

History

PTNA's account places the beginnings of some Op. 28 preludes around 1836 and reports completion of the collection in Mallorca in 1838. The autograph collection was sent to Paris in January 1839, and publication followed in 1839. This is a history of the set, not evidence that every prelude began on the island.

Sources

What to listen for

  1. A long song floats over broken notes

    Held upper chordal tones unfold above continuous lower movement. Hear the broad melodic span through the smaller figures.

  2. An ornamented recall changes its continuation

    The opening returns with more decoration and a different response. Recognise the song beneath the added detail.

  3. Tempo I brings transformed chordal replies

    The earlier motion returns with altered chordal responses. Compare the familiar contour with its new voicing.

  4. A slower tail holds the last sound

    The final two units slow into a held close. Hear the remaining layers settle without deriving a practice speed from source playback commands.

How to practise it

Balance a slow chordal line over continuous motion

  1. Hear the upper line inside the chords
  2. Keep the accompaniment moving under long notes

How hard is it

Level 7, estimated

A sustained lyrical line and gently moving support require refined balance and patient pacing.

About this piece

Interpretive sketch of Frédéric Chopin, an illustration and not a verified likeness
An illustration, not a portrait
Collection
The prelude gallery
Licence
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0
Source
mutopiaproject.org
Credit
“Prélude 13” by F. F. Chopin (1810 to 1849). Mutopia edition maintained by Knute Snortum. Source: https://www.mutopiaproject.org/cgibin/piece-info.cgi?id=2174. Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/. Changes to the supplied file: none; any later conversion or edit must be disclosed separately.

More by Frédéric Chopin

  1. Prelude in A major, Op. 28 No. 7Level 5, estimatedWith Maestro
  2. Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 9 No. 2Level 7, estimatedWith Maestro
  3. Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52Level 10, estimatedWith Maestro

With Maestro

Play it, slow it down, hear where you land

Balance a slow chordal line over continuous motion

Practise it in PlayPiano