Adams Morgan in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Preludes
Fryderyk Chopin
| | Creation | |
'If Chopin had composed nothing but the preludes, he would still deserve immortality' — Anton Rubinstein
Copin completed his 24 Preludes, Op. 28 in the years 1838-1839, but the ideas probably date back to earlier years, possibly even to 1831. The final stage in his work on these compositions coincided with the start of his liaison with George Sand, the period of his journey with her and her children to Majorca. The model for Chopin's cycle of preludes was Johann Sebastian Bach's Das Wohltemperierte Klavier — two famous sets of 24 preludes and figures in all the keys.
Yet Chopin's preludes do not serve as introductions to other compositions. They are ordered according to successive keys around the circle of fifths, and the cycle is fused by a motif of a second. Yet individual preludes represent separate compositions, each of its own character, and the cycle when performed as a whole, reveals the precision with which the composer chose the moods and employed a sense of contrast. Although Chopin did not give titles to his preludes, they began to be ascribed poetical or illustrative content, as in the case of the famous Prelude in D flat major, known as the 'Raindrop'.
Erected by Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Washington, DC; The Fryderyk
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical year for this entry is 1831.
Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 38° 55.481′ N, 77° 2.198′ W. Marker was in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It was in Adams Morgan. It was on 16th Street Northwest just south of Fuller Street Northwest, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 2640 16th St NW, Washington DC 20009, United States of America.
We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Regionally, this marker was in the Washington Metropolitan Area. It was also in the American Northeast, in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. within walking distance of this location: Touch for a list and map of all markers in Northwest Washington.
Other markers no longer nearby. Nocturns (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Impromptus (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Historic Expedition (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Waltzes (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Songs (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Return to the Colca Canyon
More about this marker.
[Captions:]
Robert Spies
Title page of the graphic portfolio Frιdιric Chopin, Les 24 Prιludes. Illustrιs por Robert Spies [Fryderyk Chopin, the 24 Preludes. Illustrated by Robert Spies], 1912
collotype on paper
Fryderyk Chopin Museum
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 19, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 271 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 19, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
