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Frederic Chopin published his 24 preludes in 1839, and it’s time to look at the preludes with flats in their key signatures.

The fourteenth prelude is a one page warmup for the finale of the “Funeral March” sonata. It’s a weird, eerie piece.

Chopin: Prelude in E-flat minor, Op. 28/14

The “Raindrop Prelude” is the one of the most famous of Chopin’s pieces. The storm arrives in the middle, and Chopin unleashes his power before the storm passes and the sunlight returns.

Chopin: Prelude in D-flat, Op. 28/15 (“Raindrop”)

This four page horror requires fingers of steel and is one of the most difficult things Chopin ever wrote. I was too afraid to try it.

Chopin: Prelude in B-flat minor, Op. 28/16

This prelude sounds like one of Mendelssohn’s songs without words, but it’s one of my personal favorites. One lady for whom I played it said it always made her weak in the knees. Not weak enough, unfortunately! At the end, Chopin brings back the melody with different and barer supporting harmonies, while the left hand plays an A-flat bell tone. At the end, two hearts beat as one.

Chopin: Prelude in A-flat, Op. 28/17

This prelude gave pianists in movie theaters during the silent film era the perfect accompaniment for a murder scene.

Chopin: Prelude in F minor, Op. 28/18

The nineteenth prelude is a real hand stretcher. Fortunately, my hands were big enough to handle it.

Chopin: Prelude in E-flat, Op. 28/19

This little piece lasts only 13 bars, and the last four are a repetition. It’s one of the simplest, most beautiful and most melancholy of the preludes. Barry Manilow turned it into an 8 minute monstrosity, something for which I never forgave him.

Chopin: Prelude in C minor, Op. 28/20

The 21st prelude is an exercise for the left hand, and it is difficult to articulate the notes clearly at speed.

Chopin: Prelude in B-flat, Op. 28/21

This two page prelude is a tornado set to music.

Chopin: Prelude in G minor, Op. 28/22

The next to last prelude is a butterfly on the wing, with a tricky right hand that involves tucking the thumb and rolling the wrist.

Chopin: Prelude in F, Op. 28/23

The final prelude brings up images of stormy waves crashing on the beach.

Chopin: Prelude in D minor, Op. 28/24 (“The Storm”)