Prelude in E minor

Chopin's Op. 28 Preludes (1839) are twenty-four short pieces, one in each major and minor key, modelled on Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier but in compressed Romantic style. The E-minor Prelude is the fourth of the set and one of the most-played: a single page of slow, descending chromatic harmony over a long, sighing melodic line, played at Chopin's funeral on his explicit request.

Technically the piece tests two specific things: voicing the melodic line clearly above a slow-moving chord progression in the left hand, and shaping the long descending chromatic harmonic line so that each shift speaks. The right hand carries a melody of just a few notes; the left hand has the chordal substance and needs careful pedalling to clarify the harmonic moves. The dynamic plan is restrained — largo and pianissimo dominate — but the small dynamic peaks are decisive.

Two pitfalls. First, students often play the left hand as undifferentiated chordal support and miss the chromatic descent that is the piece's substance; practise the left hand alone, voice each shift, then re-add the right hand. Second, the famous middle climax often gets over-played; Chopin marks it stretto but not forte, and the piece works best when the climax is intense rather than loud.

The complete Op. 28 is on IMSLP in clean public-domain editions. Hearing the surrounding preludes calibrates the right Romantic poise; the C-major opening and A-minor second prelude make a complete statement together.