FC
Main text
FCI - Fontana's copy of earlier version
A - Autograph
FC - Fontana's copy
FE - French edition
FE1 - First French edition
FE2 - Corrected impression of FE1
FED - Dubois copy
FEJ - Jędrzejewicz Copy
FES - Stirling copy
FESch - Scherbatoff copy
GE - German edition
GE1 - First German edition
GE2 - Revised impression of GE1
GE3 - Corrected impression of GE2
EE - English edition
EE1 - First English edition
EE1a - Corrected impression of EE1
EE2 - Revised impression of EE1a
compare
  b. 6-15

dim. & poco cresc. in FCI

No indications in A (→FCGE, →FEEE)

The more abundant performance indications of FCI – dim. in b. 6,  in b. 11 and poco cresc. in b. 15 – could have been related to the calmer tempo of the Prelude. Chopin could have assumed that indicating such a great number of dynamic details (also with the help of hairpins and accents) could have provoked an excessively effusive, unwieldy performance in the final, faster tempo. According to us, they can be used to a limited extent, suited to the general character marked by the indications Vivace and leggieramente as well as by the dramaturgy of the entire cycle. A comparison of, e.g. b. 6 with b. 15 may be inspiring:

  • dim. in b. 6 ends the first phrase, while the accent in b. 7 emphasizes the surprising modulating chord opening the second phrase, which complements the first one as its antithesis;
  • poco cresc. in b. 15 leads to a new thought, which continues (the same L.H.) and develops (modulating f2 in the melody) the preceding one.

See also b. 27-30 and 32.

Compare the passage in the sources »

category imprint: Differences between sources

notation: Verbal indications

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