Prélude I/6: Des pas sur la neige, L. 117 No. 6

A dragging rhythm underlies the whole piece. The three-note motif sounds over a held D at the start (A), and a melody in the upper voice later gives way to one in the bass. In the sections that follow the chords become denser and more dissonant, building to a climax of sorrow. The final section fades away, marked morendo and pianissimo, and ends on a hollow D minor chord with almost four octaves between the hands.

1. 0:01A
2. B