| Frederic Chopin is widely accepted as one of the foremost composers of lyrical and poetic music for piano, and his Preludes, Opus 28, are considered by many to be among his best works. In the Preludes, Chopin raised the genre of the prelude from the utilitarian to the aesthetic level. This thesis offers an exploration of the use of non-harmonic tones as a pronounced aspect of the aesthetic effect of the Preludes.; This thesis is organized by a topical approach; the main section is grouped by variety of non-harmonic tones. From the 24 Preludes of Op. 28, 14 pieces that seem to include non-harmonic tones most prominently in their language have been selected for discussion. The main section consists of three chapters. The first chapter deals with neighbor tones; Preludes No. 2 in A minor, No. 5 in D major, No. 8 in F-sharp minor, No. 11 in B major, No. 13 in F-sharp major, No. 17 in A-flat major, No. 18 in F minor, and No. 19 in E-flat major are discussed. The second chapter deals with suspensions and anticipations in the Preludes No. 14 in E-flat minor and No. 22 in G minor. The last chapter is devoted to the pieces that utilize multiple types of non-harmonic tones on a relatively equal basis; Preludes No. 10 in C-sharp minor, No. 12 in G-sharp minor, No. 20 in C minor, and No. 21 in B-flat major are discussed.; The role of non-harmonic tones in the Preludes will be discussed in the main section and reviewed in the conclusion through the following five issues that have been proposed in the introduction: harmonic color, motivic integration, temporality, continuity between phrases, and inventive accompanimental patterns. Harmonic color and motivic integration are the two most common aspects in the contribution of non-harmonic tones to the 14 preludes in the main section. Examining nonharmonic tones in the Preludes reveals intricate details in these short pieces and gives understanding into Chopin's musical language, which contributed to the aesthetic elevation of the genre of the prelude, and to the development of chromatic harmony. |
