NAME ______PIANO PRELUDES FACT SHEET Before you begin, define the word “prelude.”

Composers typically wrote and published preludes in sets. These sets often, but not always, followed the same pattern of key relationships.

In Baroque period music, a prelude usually served as an introduction for another piece of music, such as a fugue or a set of dances. Bach composed two sets of preludes and fugues titled the Well-Tempered Clavier. Each set has 24 pieces, one in each key. The root of each piece moves up by half steps, so the order is C major, C minor, C# Major, C# minor, D major, D minor, etc.

In Romantic era music, preludes did not necessarily serve as an introduction and were more likely to be stand-alone pieces like Chopin’s set of 24 preludes, Op. 28. The key signatures for Chopin’s preludes move clockwise around the circle. Each key signature represents one major and one minor key.

Rachmaninoff composed many preludes, 24 preludes in each key, and also three more! They were not all composed and published together as he did not originally plan to compose a full set.

Debussy composed two books of preludes. Each book has twelve preludes. Debussy’s preludes do not follow any special order for the key signatures. Also, Debussy gave his preludes special titles and put them at the end of the song!

George Gershwin planned to write a set of preludes, but only ended up completing three. These are influenced by American jazz music.

John Cage wrote a piece titled “Prelude for Meditation” for prepared piano. Prepared piano means that there are objects placed inside the piano in order to create different sounds.

Preludes are often played at the beginning of church services and weddings! WORKSHEET

In Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier, which piece comes after E minor? ______

In Chopin’s preludes, Op 28, which key signature will come after D major/B minor (two sharps)? ______

Translate the French title of Debussy’s “La Cathédrale engloutie” to English.

______

Choose your favorite prelude from the listening homework and write the title here:

______

Try to answer these questions about your favorite piece without looking at the score. Then, download the score on IMSLP.org to discover more answers!

Clap a steady beat to the music. Can you tell how many beats are in a measure? ______

Is the tempo (speed) fast or slow? ______What is the tempo marking? ______

Is it in a major or minor key? Can you tell from listening? ______

What is the key signature for this piece? How many sharps/flats? ______

Can you guess the dynamic marking in the opening theme? ______

Who is your favorite composer from this week’s listening assignment? ______

Match the items in the two columns: Chopin Placed objects inside of the piano to change the sound John Cage Didn’t plan to compose a set of preludes, but ended up doing it anyway Rachmaninoff Influenced by American jazz music Debussy Composed 24 preludes, Op. 28 that follow the circle of fifths. J.S. Bach Wrote titles at the end of his preludes Gershwin Composed two books of preludes and fugues

CHOOSE A CREATIVE PROJECT!

Choose a set of preludes by one composer:

 Draw a small picture representing each prelude in the set or find pictures online that you feel represent each prelude in a set.  Or, write a short 1-2 sentence description of every prelude. You can describe the tempo (speed), volume, character or mood, difficulty level and more. You could also just list words describing each prelude. They don’t’ even have to be complete sentences.

Learn to play a prelude. (options are available at pianowithkatie.com/listen) Mark in your own expressive dynamic markings BEFORE you begin to practice. These can include the hairpin (growing louder and growing softer) markings, crescendo, diminuendo and also forte, piano, mezzo forte, etc.

Compose a prelude.

Practice scales in the order of Chopin’s Preludes (Going around the circle of fifths, C/am,G/em,D/bm) and in the order of Bach’s Well-tempered Clavier. (C/Cm,C#/C#m,D/Dm, etc.) If you haven’t learned scales starting on black keys you can learn them or play just the first three notes!