Dmitry Kabalevsky's Preludes, Op. 38, are a set of 24 piano pieces in the Chopinian model, each based on a folksong and each in a different key. It was composed in 1943–44, and dedicated to Nikolai Myaskovsky, his teacher. It is one of a number of examples of music written in all 24 major and minor keys.
The score is headed by a quote from Mikhail Lermontov on Russian folksong.
List of preludes Andantino. C major. 27 bars. Scherzando. A minor. 38 bars. Vivace leggiero. G major. 53 bars Andantino. E minor. 63 bars. Andante sostenuto. D major. 45 bars. Allegro molto. B minor. 35 bars. Moderato e tranquillo. A major. 26 bars. Andante non troppo. Semplice e cantando – Poco Agitato – Tempo I. F minor. 29 bars. Allegretto scherzando – Poco più mosso. E major. 63 bars. Non troppo allegro ma agitato. Recitando, rubato – Largo – Come prima – Largo. C minor. 43 bars. Vivace scherzando. B major. 61 bars. Adagio. G minor. 35 bars. Allegro non troppo. F major. 69 bars. Prestissimo possibile. E minor. 100 bars. Allegretto marcato. D major. 32 bars. Allegro tenebroso. B minor. 59 bars. Andantino tranquillo. A major. 41 bars. Largamente con gravita. F minor. 13 bars. Allegretto. E major. 35 bars. Andantino semplice. C minor. 53 bars. Festivamente. Non troppo allegro. B major. 57 bars. Scherzando. Non troppo allegro. G minor. 62 bars. Andante sostenuto. F major. 30 bars. Allegro feroce – Meno mosso. Marciale. – Pochissimo più mosso – Poco meno mosso. D minor. 105 bars.
References Peters's edition of the score; Edition Peters Mo. 4785 – E.P.122225 – Licence-no. 415-300/285/73. Röderdruck, Leipzig (GDR)