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Harmonic Analysis of Chopin's Prelude #4

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Overview:: An harmonic Analysis of Chopin's Prelude #4.
Type of Material:: A lecture/presentation musical analysis with text (in English and Spanish) and graphics.
Recommended Uses:: For use in a 2nd or 3rd year college- level music theory class. Advanced high school is also possible.
Technical Requirements:: Computer with browsing capability and soundcard/speakers.
Identify Major Learning Goals:: A general harmonic analysis of the Chopin Prelude No. 4 in E minor including glimpses into voice-leading, chromatic harmony and links to jazz harmony.
Target Student Population:: Advanced High school or 2nd-4rd year music theory course.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:: Beginner to advanced classical theory including a basic understanding of harmonic analysis and voice-leading.

Rating:
Strengths:: The graphical representation of voice movement, and the stripped down chordal sequence indicating it's simple origins. The audio examples were useful and clear.
Concerns:: There is little to no discussion of non-chord tones and understanding the piece only in it's simplest harmonic terms may not give a full account of the complexity of the Prelude. The harmonic analysis is quite local and does not explore the long range harmonic exploration.

Rating:
Strengths:: This analysis is terrific for an entry into the complex world of chromatic harmony. While the site breaks down the Prelude into it's most basic harmonic form, it does open the door to exploring other valuable points the composition has - voice- leading, non-chord tones and form.
Concerns:: A beginner theorist may think this analysis explains the entire work, however, it does not. It is an introduction into more complex theoretical thinking about chromatic harmony and voice-leading.

Rating:
Strengths:: The site is very easy to use and allows the user to control the playback of the musical examples. All the examples and recorded material are excellent and will work as a model of exemplary analysis for the beginning music theorist.
Concerns:: As long as the user understands that there is more to this piece than what is written here there will be little concern.

Other Issues and Comments:: This is a great introduction into the world of chromatic harmony and will lead the beginning music theory student in the right directions. Though the analysis given here feels localized and misses some of the large-scale connections, it is a good start to understanding how the harmonic vocabulary grew.
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