Sand famously described a night where Chopin, left alone during a storm, had a feverish dream of drowning in a lake with heavy, icy drops falling on his chest. While Chopin reportedly disliked such literal "imitative" interpretations of his music, the nickname has endured for nearly two centuries. Musical Structure

The title "Raindrop" was not given by Chopin himself but is often attributed to pianist Hans von Bülow. It refers to the relentless, repeating note (A-flat/G-sharp) that pulses throughout the piece, resembling the steady dripping of rain.

Dark, brooding, and "nightmarish." The pulse shifts to a relentless G-sharp (the enharmonic equivalent of A-flat) that builds to a powerful, dramatic climax. D-flat Major