Prelude No. 6 (op. 28) by Fryderyk Chopin: Artistic and Performance Aspects

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to conduct a comprehensive musicological and performance analysis of Chopin’s Prelude No. 6 h-moll, to reveal its artistic and figurative content, features of structure, dramaturgy, and means of musical expression, and to provide methodological recommendations for mastering this work by students of cultural and artistic institutions. The research methodology consists in applying a comprehensive musicological and performance analysis method, which includes biographical, historical-cultural, genre and style methods, as well as various types of analysis of the work: structural (to determine the features of the form, theme, harmony, texture), semantic (to reveal artistic and figurative content and dramaturgy), and performance (to characterise the expressive means in performance). Scientific novelty. For the first time in Ukrainian musicology, a comprehensive musicological and performance analysis of Chopin’s Prelude No. 6 has been conducted, and methodological recommendations have been provided for students of cultural and arts institutions to master this piece. Conclusions. This miniature belongs to the lyrical and mournful pages of F. Chopin’s music. The dramaturgy of the work is based on the conflictual interaction of two contrasting images, which are embodied in different layers of texture. The left hand plays a sincere lyrical melody that constantly strives to move upward toward light and hope (the embodiment of subjective human feelings). However, its development is constantly restrained by the chord accompaniment in the right hand, in which repetitions of eighth notes are monotonously repeated throughout almost the entire piece (embodying tragic objective reality). Under the influence of this ostinato accompaniment, the melody gradually loses its upward direction, becoming exhausted and joyless. Its final sounding is perceived as a sad memory of hopes that will never come true. The main tasks for performers working on this Prelude are defined as a deep understanding of the artistic and imaginative content and dramaturgy of the work, as well as careful work on all the means of expressiveness that need to be directed towards revealing the artistic image.