Classical Music in Pictures Music in Pictures    

Lesson 17: Preludes, Op. 28 - No. 4 'Suffocation'

by Frédéric Chopin

Performer: Ivan Ilic

Directions

Study the musical selection for one week.

Over the week:

• Each day, listen to the musical selection.
• Read the synopsis.
• Review the vocabulary terms.
• Read about the composer and practice reciting his or her name and the composition title.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Study the review questions.

Synopsis

Written between 1835 and 1839, Chopin's 24 Preludes, Op. 28, are a set of short piano compositions. Preludes are short musical pieces that often introduce more complex pieces. When Chopin wrote the Preludes, which are stand-alone versus introducing other pieces, critics criticized them for being too short and lacking structure. Prelude No. 4, 'Suffocation,' was played at Chopin's funeral at his request. It is believed the full title to this piece is 'What tears [are shed] from the depths of the damp monastery?.' You may recognize this piece. It is one of Chopin's best-known.

Vocabulary

Prelude: Short musical pieces that often introduce more complex pieces, although Chopin's preludes stand alone.
Suffocation: The struggle or inability to breathe.
Monastery: A building or buildings occupied by a community of monks living under religious vows.

Composer

1. Frédéric Chopin was born in 1810 near Warsaw, Poland. See his picture below.

2. Zoom in and find Chopin's country of birth on the map of Europe below.

3. Chopin started piano lessons at an early age. It quickly became obvious that he was a child prodigy. By the time he was seven, Chopin gave concerts and wrote his first two piano compositions.
4. In his early thirties, Chopin suffered from serious health problems. He died of an unknown illness in 1849 at the age of 39.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Describe the Music

Listen to the music, and close your eyes and let yourself imagine. What do you picture as you listen to the music?

After listening to the music, describe and discuss what you heard.

Is the music happy or sad? Is the tempo (speed) of the music brisk or subdued?

Read the list of adjectives. Select those that describe the music or think up additional adjectives.

• Cheerful
• Mournful
• Soft
• Noisy
• Vivacious
• Soothing
• Eerie
• Threatening
• Surreal
• Whimsical
• Rhythmic
• Grand

Activity 2: Study the Painting, Klavidiy Vasilievich Lebedev's 'Tsar Ivan the Terrible Asks Abbot Cyril for Tonsure'

As you listen to the music, find the following in the painting:

• Cloaks
• Fur Coat
• Hoods
• Hats
• Shoes
• Pictures on the Wall
• Window
• Rug
• Book

After you study the painting, narrate the scene shown in the painting aloud using your own words.

Describe how the painting relates to the music.

Activity 3: Read About the Painting, Klavidiy Vasilievich Lebedev's 'Tsar Ivan the Terrible Asks Abbot Cyril for Tonsure'

The painting shows the Russian ruler, Ivan the Terrible, in a state of despair as he pleads with the father superior of a monastery to take tonsure, which involves shaving the head in a show of humility.

Review

Question 1

What is the title of the music?

1 / 3

Answer 1

The title is 'Suffocation.'

1 / 3

Question 2

Who composed the music?

2 / 3

Answer 2

The composer is Frédéric Chopin.

2 / 3

Question 3

What does suffocation mean?

3 / 3

Answer 3

Suffocation means the struggle or inability to breathe.

3 / 3

❮ ❯

1. What is the title of the music? The title is 'Suffocation.'
2. Who composed the music? The composer is Frédéric Chopin.
3. What does suffocation mean? Suffocation means the struggle or inability to breathe.

References

'Frédéric Chopin.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Preludes (Chopin).' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.