Raindrop

Behind the music:

Frédéric Chopin’s Prelude in D-flat major, Op. 28 No. 15, was written in 1838 during his stay on Mallorca with George Sand. The repeated A-flat note running through the piece led to the nickname “Raindrop,” though Chopin himself never used this title. The work contrasts a calm, lyrical outer section with a darker middle part that shifts to C-sharp minor. Many scholars link this contrast to Chopin’s declining health and the difficult conditions of his stay. Today, it is one of his most recognized piano works because of its clear structure and emotional clarity.