The motif, opening the return of the main theme of the Etude, is provided with 
in A and in FE (→GE,EE) – with 
. Although was probably overlooked, Chopin did not return it at the time of proofreading FE, yet he added the hairpins. Renouncement of indicating dynamic level in the returning theme, in which dynamic contrasts play such a crucial role, does not seem to be convincing; however, Chopin could have taken into account the fact that is valid here on the basis of the indication in bar 45. Due to this fact the hairpins of FE should have been regarded as the main version (cf. bars 43-45). On the other hand, as the comparison with the remaining appearances of the theme clearly suggests that the composer considered both indications to be necessary to determine the dynamics and character of this motif, we believe that including next to the hairpins is equally justified.
Arrangement of the mark in A – see the remark concerning bars 51-63.
Compare the passage in the sources »
category imprint: Differences between sources
issues: Errors in FE
notation: Verbal indications
