Prelude No. 13 in F# major is in ternary form. It starts with an eight measure phrase based on a simple harmonic progression. Chopin uses an eighth note pattern in the left hand with two non-harmonic tones - marked in the first measures - repeated through the prelude adding harmonic interest:

Robert Ståhlbrand, piano. Courtesy of Piano Society

A second phrase follows in measure 8. The first four measures are similar to those of the previous phrase but with some melodic variations. From measure 12, Chopin modifies the harmonic plan. The phrase is ten measures long and ends over tonic chord:

Robert Ståhlbrand, piano. Courtesy of Piano Society

Section B starts in measure 20. It is a single phrase section in the relative minor key of D# minor. It moves by C# major, C# minor and B minor keys before returning to F# major to recapitulate.

In this section, Chopin uses major seventh appoggiaturas (B# in measure 21, A# in measure 23) as well as the extension of thirteenth in measures 24 and 25 (G#):

Robert Ståhlbrand, piano. Courtesy of Piano Society

Chopin uses only the second phrase of A in the recapitulation, discarding its first four measures and adding several measures to conclude the prelude. We point out once again the use of the thirteenth on the IV degree chord (G#) in measure 33:

Robert Ståhlbrand, piano. Courtesy of Piano Society

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Complete prelude:

Robert Ståhlbrand, piano. Courtesy of Piano Society

© 2019 José Rodríguez Alvira. Published by teoria.com