Frederic Chopin composed a collection of 24 preludes, one for each major and minor key. They are all short pieces, but the shortest of all is No. 7, at only 16 measures long. Although it is in a major key (A major), it conveys a touch of melancholy and nostalgia, more akin to a minor mode.
A prelude had traditionally been regarded as an introductory piece (as in Bach’s preludes and fugues, for example). Chopin’s preludes, however, are self-contained works that stand on their own. They each convey a unique idea or emotion.
Chopin’s contemporary, composer Robert Schumann described the preludes as “sketches, beginnings of études, or, so to speak, ruins, individual eagle pinions, all disorder and wild confusions.” Franz Liszt gave a different perspective: “Chopin’s Preludes are compositions of an order entirely apart… they are poetic preludes, analogous to those of a great contemporary poet, who cradles the soul in golden dreams…” And musicologist Henry Finck proclaimed that “if all piano music in the world were to be destroyed, excepting one collection, my vote should be cast for Chopin’s Preludes.”
Prelude No. 7 has been called a Polish dance, a gentle mazurka. Alfred Cortot, one of the most famous piano interpreters of Chopin, gave No. 7 the title “Des souvenirs délicieux flottent comme un parfum à travers la mémoire…” which translates to “Sensational memories float like perfume through my mind…” Indeed, the tempo that the interpreter chooses for this piece determines how lively and upbeat, or slow and dreamlike, the mood that this piece creates. It can work brilliantly well with either approach.
This short and sweet prelude conveys a simple joy, a gentle pleasure. It has been said that Chopin had a unique touch and ability to play piano (the soft dynamic) so masterfully and with exquisite control. This prelude showcased this ability, no doubt, when he performed and deserves the same soothing, thoughtful interpretation from modern performers. A refinement and sophistication result from this dreamy and lilting dance, welcoming an air of pensiveness and relaxation.