A few subsequent 
marks in bars 258, 259, 261 and 263 mean that these hairpins have most probably a double meaning: long accent and diminuendo. In the case of bars 258-259, however, according to us, the best compliance with the phrasing is achieved by separating both functions – the mark in bar 258 denotes a long accent, whereas the next one – a common diminuendo. It cannot be excluded that Chopin did write a long accent in bar 258 (
) – if the octave, filling the entire bar, was written according to his custom, i.e. in the middle of the bar, then, after moving it to the beginning of the bar in print, the long accent mark, considered by the engraver to be a hairpin, was proportionally extended. Taking that into account, we suggest an alternative notation with long accent.
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category imprint: Interpretations within context
issues: Long accents
notation: Articulation, Accents, Hairpins