Prelude No. 15 in D-flat major is in compound ternary form. The following table shows its structure. Click on the letters to see the corresponding excerpts.

	Db major A 3 parts section		A phrase consisting of four measures, which is played twice (measures 1-8), in Db major.
			Three phrases, each consisting of four measures, in A-flat minor and B-flat minor (9–19).
			The first measures are repeated. The section ends on the dominant chord, preparing for section B (20–27).
	C# minor A two-part section.		A group of four phrases, each consisting of four measures, that are repeated (28–59).
			Two phrases of four measures each are repeated with a small variation to prepare the recapitulation.
	Db major No subdivisions	The first phrase of Section A is followed by a short coda (76).

The prelude is characterised by the presence of a dominant pedal (Ab in Db major, G# in C# minor) for the majority of the piece.

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Complete prelude:

Robert Ståhlbrand, piano. Courtesy of Piano Society

© 2019 José Rodríguez Alvira. Published by teoria.com