Elegiac Prélude “Lamentation”

The Five Elegiac Préludes Opp 11-15 were conceived as a set of préludes totally written in minor keys (no modulations to major keys) to reflect elegiac emotions (as emphasized by their subtitles).

The Prélude in E minor consists of a simple repetitive, plaintive melody built on the tonic in the treble with an underlying arpeggiated triplet rhythm in the bass. After a brief excursion into a secondary theme in A minor, the original melody returns adding an underlying contrapuntal melody through the conclusion of the piece.

This prélude was composed from 27 December 2011 through 18 May 2012.