Prelude, Op. 28, No. 16 (Chopin)
Encyclopedia
The Prelude Op. 28, No. 16, the "Hades" prelude, by Frédéric Chopin
, is considered by many to be the most difficult of the Chopin preludes. Hans von Bulow
dubbed this prelude, "Hades." It was composed between 1836 and 1839, published in 1839 and dedicated to Camille Pleyel
who commissioned the opus 28 preludes for 2,000 francs.
The prelude opens with six heavily accented chords before progressing to an impromptu-like passage in the right hand. While the right hand must cover some six pages of sixteenth notes in under a minute at a presto con fuoco tempo, the prime difficulty of the prelude is in the rapid follow-through motion of the three-note left-hand chord groups.
Vladimir de Pachmann
, a concert pianist noted for his performances of Chopin's repertoire, said of this prelude:
Frédéric Chopin
Frédéric François Chopin was a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist. He is considered one of the great masters of Romantic music and has been called "the poet of the piano"....
, is considered by many to be the most difficult of the Chopin preludes. Hans von Bulow
Hans von Bülow
Hans Guido Freiherr von Bülow was a German conductor, virtuoso pianist, and composer of the Romantic era. He was one of the most famous conductors of the 19th century, and his activity was critical for establishing the successes of several major composers of the time, including Richard...
dubbed this prelude, "Hades." It was composed between 1836 and 1839, published in 1839 and dedicated to Camille Pleyel
Pleyel et Cie
Pleyel et Cie is a French piano manufacturing firm founded by the composer Ignace Pleyel in 1807. In 1815, he was joined by his son, Camille, as a business partner. The firm provided pianos to Frédéric Chopin, and also ran a concert hall, the Salle Pleyel, where Chopin performed his first — and...
who commissioned the opus 28 preludes for 2,000 francs.
The prelude opens with six heavily accented chords before progressing to an impromptu-like passage in the right hand. While the right hand must cover some six pages of sixteenth notes in under a minute at a presto con fuoco tempo, the prime difficulty of the prelude is in the rapid follow-through motion of the three-note left-hand chord groups.
Vladimir de Pachmann
Vladimir de Pachmann
Vladimir von Pachmann or Pachman was a pianist of Russian-German ethnicity, especially noted for performing the works of Chopin, and also for his eccentric on-stage style.-Biography:...
, a concert pianist noted for his performances of Chopin's repertoire, said of this prelude:
"The sixteenth is my great favorite! It is la plus grande tour de force in Chopin. It is the most difficult of all the preludes technically, possibly excepting the nineteenth. In this case, presto is not enough. It should be played prestissimo, or, better still, vivacissimo."
External links
- Prelude No. 16 on YouTube, performed by Martha ArgerichMartha ArgerichMartha Argerich is an Argentine pianist.-Early life:Argerich was born in Buenos Aires and started playing the piano at age three...