WN 37, Lento con gran espressione

Characteristic of A1 are bars 21-22, 25-26 & 30-32, which feature a polymetry unique in Chopin – two bars in 3/4 in the R.H. corresponding to one bar in 4/4 in the L.H. It results from a combination of reminiscences of the first theme from the 3rd movement of the Concerto in F minor op. 21 and of the song 'Życzenie' (3/4) with the continued Nocturne-like accompaniment (4/4).

A1 is of clearly working nature:

• the handwriting is careless and hasty – a vast majority of the vertical lines is provided with characteristic hooks at the bottom, some accidentals are written in a simplified manner, e.g. the naturals in b. 18 or 22;
• the slurs are of draft nature, sometimes only marked, e.g. in b. 15, 20 or 22. Moreover, they are random, e.g. in the first section of the piece (to b. 20), there are only 2 L.H. slurs, in b. 7 and 20;
• the other performance indications also appear randomly – prior to b. 43 Chopin wrote only a few dynamic markings,  in b. 1 and 21, con forza in b. 15 and  in b. 18. They are complemented by 2  marks in b. 1-2 and 3-4 and the accent in b. 19. In turn, the ending is provided with a greater number of markings –  in b. 57,  in b. 58, 61 and 63, dim. in b. 61 and 62 and seven  or  marks in b. 57-60.

The performed corrections are hardly legible, unlike the ones in the other finished autographs – a new version is sometimes written directly over the previous one, e.g. in b. 15, 16 or 26, at times even without deleting it, like in b. 18. 

The editors of mUltimate Chopin wish to express their gratitude to the curator of the Museum in Valldemossa, Prof. Bożena Schmid-Adamczyk, for rendering available a photocopy of this source.