Prelude in F major, Op. 28 No. 23
The penultimate prelude - a shimmering veil of F major before the storm.
Prelude No. 23 in F major functions as a breath before the dramatic finale of the Op. 28 set. A delicate, filigree right-hand line floats over a simple accompaniment, the texture so transparent it can seem like improvisation. Chopin places it just before the fierce, stormy No. 24 in D minor, and the contrast is calculated: this prelude's lightness makes the finale hit harder.
The piece is marked moderato and calls for a silvery, almost detached touch in the upper voice - the kind of fingerwork Chopin prized and taught in his Paris lessons. It was composed during the same fertile period as the rest of the collection and reflects Chopin's belief that a prelude need not introduce anything: it can simply be a momentary state.
Practise the right-hand line as a melody first.
Strip the right hand to its melodic skeleton and sing or hum the line before playing - understanding the phrase shape makes it easier to distribute the filigree ornaments naturally. The left hand accompaniment should be barely audible, more felt than heard.
Engraving based on the Mutopia Project edition , licensed Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0.
MIDI based on the Mutopia Project edition , licensed Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0.
Before you practice.
01 Is Chopin Prelude Op. 28 No. 23 suitable for intermediate pianists?
Yes - it is technically one of the more approachable pieces in Op. 28. The challenge is musical rather than mechanical: sustaining a singing tone and natural phrase shaping requires sensitivity and control, which makes it rewarding to polish.
02 How many measures is the Chopin Prelude No. 23?
Just 22 measures at a Moderato tempo, making it one of the shorter pieces in Op. 28 and a realistic short-term goal for intermediate pianists building their Chopin repertoire.
Touch the keys as lightly as possible in the right hand.
At 50% tempo, play the right hand alone and aim for the shallowest key contact that still produces a tone. At 80%, add the left hand and use wait-for-note mode to keep the harmonic rhythm steady. The finished performance should sound as if the notes cost no effort - every sign of physical work must be removed before raising the tempo slider to full speed.
