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Romantic · prelude

Prelude in Op. 28, No. 22

Frédéric Chopin · Level 8, estimated · With Maestro

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The short answer

A prelude in a collection shaped over several years. Prelude in Op. 28, No. 22 is a prelude by Frédéric Chopin from the Romantic era. PlayPiano puts it at Level 8, an estimate.

On this page
  • prelude
  • Romantic
  • stormy

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 lower pickup launches offbeat replies

    Falling lower octaves begin before the upper chordal answers. Hear their connected gesture across the differing entry times.

  2. Repeated octaves form a contrasting group

    The lower octave pattern receives upper responses in a longer contrast. Compare its direction with the opening.

  3. Familiar answers return in changed registers

    Opening-related responses come back with different placement. Recognise their shape without attaching it to a fixed hand.

  4. Short arrivals yield to a held arpeggio

    The ending joins chordal responses and sustained arpeggiated sound. Hear the quick attacks resolve into the final harmony.

How to practise it

Make the octave pickup directional and keep the later chord holds steady.

  1. Locate the three octave positions first; add long-short timing only when the descent feels calm.
  2. Practise holding C through the change from E-flat to D, then count the preceding rests into the entry.

How hard is it

Level 8, estimated

Forceful bass-led gestures and coordinated chord attacks require rhythmic firmness without excessive tension.

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 22” by F. F. Chopin (1810 to 1849). Mutopia edition maintained by Knute Snortum. Source: https://www.mutopiaproject.org/cgibin/piece-info.cgi?id=2214. 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

Make the octave pickup directional and keep the later chord holds steady.

Practise it in PlayPiano