Prelude in D-flat major, Op. 28 No. 15
Chopin’s Prelude in D flat major, Op. 28, No. 15, is initially peaceful but transitions into a dark and unsettling C sharp minor section, creating a sense of gloom. George Sand interpreted this shift as a procession of “ghosts of dead monks.” Chopin himself referred to the piece as “rainy” when adding a note to a pupil’s copy, emphasizing its relentless, repetitive nature, with a single note resounding throughout the piece.
Sand, in her memoirs, recounts how the Prelude was inspired by the dreary, rainy weather at the isolated charterhouse where they were staying. She imagined the raindrops’ rhythm in the music, but Chopin strongly disagreed, rejecting any suggestion of “imitative harmony” in his work. Despite his protest, Chopin later referred to the piece as the “Raindrop” Prelude, suggesting a subtle acknowledgment of its rain-like quality.