<P> Prelude in G minor, Op. 23, No. 5, is a piece of music by Sergei Rachmaninoff, completed in 1901 . It was included in his Opus 23 set of ten preludes, despite having been written two years earlier than the other nine . Rachmaninoff himself premiered the piece in Moscow on February 10, 1903, along with Preludes No. 1 and 2 from Op. 23 . </P> <P> 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 . </P> <P> 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 . </P> <P> 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 . </P>

Prelude in g minor op. 23 no. 5