Classical Music in Pictures Music in Pictures    

Lesson 22: Preludes, Op. 28 - No. 12 'The Duel'

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. You can hear the clashing confrontation in Chopin's prelude, 'The Duel,' and imagine a frantic life-and-death struggle.

Vocabulary

Prelude: Short musical pieces that often introduce more complex pieces, although Chopin's preludes stand alone.
Duel: A contest with deadly weapons arranged between two people to settle a point of honor.
Confrontation: A hostile or argumentative meeting or situation between opposing parties.
Struggle: Make forceful or violent efforts to get free of restraint or constriction.

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 peaceful or frantic? Is the tempo of the music fast or slow?

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, Paolo Domenico Finoglia's 'Raymond of Toulouse Fights a Duel against Argant'

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

• Helmet
• Armor
• Broken Sword
• Whole Sword
• Shields
• Saddle
• Bridle
• Angel Wings
• Scabbard (sheath for sword)
• Stirrup (loop to support horse rider's foot)

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, Paolo Domenico Finoglia's 'Raymond of Toulouse Fights a Duel against Argant'

Italian painter Paolo Domenico Finoglia's painting 'Raymond of Toulouse Fights a Duel against Argant' shows two armored men dueling atop rearing horses over the fate of Jerusalem. Raymond of Toulouse was a French prince, and Argant was a Muslim warrior. They both wield swords and shields, although one sword is a broken stub. The men are far removed from the chaos of battle in the background. Over them hovers a winged angel, watching the confrontation.

Activity 4: Map the Painting - Jerusalem

• The painting shows a duel over the fate of Jerusalem.
• Jerusalem is a city in Israel.
• Zoom in on the map of the Middle East below. Find the city of Jerusalem within Israel.

Review

Question 1

What is the title of the music?

1 / 3

Answer 1

The title is 'The Duel.'

1 / 3

Question 2

Who composed the music?

2 / 3

Answer 2

The composer is Frédéric Chopin.

2 / 3

Question 3

What is the music about?

3 / 3

Answer 3

'The Duel' represents a fight between two parties.

3 / 3

❮ ❯

1. What is the title of the music? The title is 'The Duel.'
2. Who composed the music? The composer is Frédéric Chopin.
3. What is the music about? 'The Duel' represents a fight between two parties.

References

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

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