The Prelude's taut structure is in
ternary form, consisting of an opening "A" section with punctuated sixteenth-note chords (marked:
Alla marcia, march), a more lyrical and melancholy "B" section with sweeping
arpeggios in the left hand (marked:
Poco meno mosso), a transition into the original tempo, and a recapitulation of the initial march. The
Alla marcia section is in itself in ternary ABA form. Within the first three measures of the Prelude, Rachmaninoff introduces the unifying factors of the piece (notwithstanding the
Poco meno mosso section). First, the chordal march of measure one; second, the fragment on the second half of the beat in measure two; third, the fragment on the second half of beat two in measure three. {{quote box|align=none|border=0px|bgcolor=#FFFFFF|quote= { \new PianoStaff 16 [ 8 ] s8 s s | s 16 [ 8 ] s r 16 [ 8 ] r | s } \\ { g8__ s s s s s bes__ s | g__ s s d'16 ( f' g'4._> ) bes16 [( d' ] | \hideNotes e'8 ) } >> } \new Dynamics { s1 | s8 s s\cresc s\! } \new Staff { \autoBeamOff \clef bass \key g\minor \time 4/4 8__ s s a,16 [ \ ) ] s ^_ s | 8^_ s s d16 [( f ] 4.^> ) bes,16 [ ( d ] | \hideNotes e8 ) } \\ { \dynamicDown s8 16 [ 8 ] a,,16\ ] 8 s | s8 16 [ 8 ] s8 r8 16 [ 8 ] s | s } >> } >> } }} Measures 1–9 expand on the march theme. Following a cadence in the dominant, the section repeats in measures 10–16 with slight alterations and concludes in a G minor perfect
cadence. The "B" subsection of the
Alla marcia section (measures 17–24) mirrors the rhythm of the first measure, presenting a sequence of related chords beginning with E. {{quote box|align=none|border=0px|bgcolor=#FFFFFF|quote= { \new PianoStaff 16^. [ ^. 8^. ] 16^. [ ^. 8^. ] 8^. s4 | s8 16^. [ ^. 8^. ] 16^. [ ^. 8 ] 8^. s4 | } \\ { \slurUp 8^> s s s s s 16 [ ( ] | 8^> ) s s s s s 16 [ ( e
g ] | \hideNotes a''' ) } >> } \new Dynamics {s8\f} \new Staff { \clef bass \key g\minor 16^. [ ^. 8^. ] 16^. [ ^. 8^. ] 8^. s4 | s8 16^. [ ^. 8^. ] 16^. [ ^. 8^. ] 8^. s4 | } \\ { \slurUp 8^> s s s s s 16 ( [ c' d' ees' ] | 8^> ) s s s s s 16 [ ( e' f' g' ] | \hideNotes a' ) } >> } >> } }} In contrast to the
Alla marcia, the "B" section introduces a lyrical chordal melody over an extended arpeggiated figure. Beginning in measure 35, a two-measure phrase is repeated and then serially extended in measures 39–41. A counter melody appears at measure 42 in the middle voice, intensifying the passage. {{quote box|align=none|border=0px|bgcolor=#FFFFFF|quote= { \new PianoStaff -- ( -- -- 4-- 8 | 4-- ) -- ( ) } \\ { s2 s4 | 2 } \\ {} \\ { \slurUp s1 | s2. r8 a16 ( c'~ | \hideNotes c' ) } >> } \new Dynamics {s8\pp} \new Staff { \clef bass \key g\minor \times 4/6 {16 a, ( d fis c' d'} \times 4/6 {fis' d' c' fis d a, ) } \times 4/6 {d, ( a, d fis c' d'} \times 4/6 { fis' d' c' fis d a, ) } | \times 4/6 {d, ( a, d g c' ees' } \times 4/6 {g' ees' c' g d a,) } \times 4/6 {d, ( a, d fis c' d' } \times 4/6 {fis' d' c' fis d a, ) } } >> } }} {{quote box|align=none|border=0px|bgcolor=#FFFFFF|quote= { \new PianoStaff 8-- ( 4-- 8 ) } \\ { \once \override Tie #'control-points = #'((1 . -3.5) (11 . -7) (21 . -7) (31 . -3.5)) 2 c'8 \change Staff="LeftHand" \stemUp d'^- e'^- fis'^- } \\ {} \\ { s8 a'16 ( c
d4--) s 4 } >> } \new Staff = "LeftHand" { \clef bass \key g\minor \times 4/6 {d,16 ( a, d fis c' d' } \times 4/6 {fis' d' c' fis d a,) } \slurDown \times 4/6 {d, a, fis d' ( c' fis ) } \times 4/6 {e' ( c' fis ) fis' ( c' fis ) } } >> } }} Following the middle section, the Prelude transitions to a recapitulation of the march section by gradual increases in tempo and dynamics. The section uses chromatically upward moving chords following embellished diminished seventh figures. {{quote box|align=none|border=0px|bgcolor=#FFFFFF|quote= { \new PianoStaff s s a16 [( bes] d'2_> ) } \\ { s8 16 [ 8 ] s g''\rest 16 [ ] [ 8 ] } >> } \new Dynamics { s8\ff s s s s s16\8^> s s a,16 ( [ bes, ] 2^> ) } \\ { s8 16 [ 8] s8 r8 16 [ ] [ 8] } >> } >> } }} Finally, the piece ends in a highly original way: a short arpeggiated run to a high G, marked
pianissimo. {{quote box|align=none|border=0px|bgcolor=#FFFFFF|quote= { \new PianoStaff [ d g ) g ( ] bes [ d' a d' ] | \clef treble \hideNotes g'' ) } \new Dynamics { s8-\markup{\dynamic "pp" \italic{leggiero}} } \new Staff = "LeftHand" { \clef bass \autoBeamOff \key g\minor a,,8 r r r d16 ( [ e fis8] ) } >> } }} == Recordings ==