Issues : Abbreviated octaves' notation

b. 9-11

composition: Op. 28 No. 9, Prelude in E major

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From the last beat of b. 9 to the middle of b. 11, the L.H. octaves are written in A in an abridged manner, with 8. However, Chopin explicitly requested that the abbreviation not be used in print by writing the following note at the bottom of the page in A: "Il faudrait graver en notes les 8ves marquées dans la basse par 8." [One should engrave with notes the 8ves marked in the bass with 8]. Chopin had a hard time choosing the right wording for that note, which can be seen on the basis of the crossings-out and additions, which evidence that it was being gradually specified.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Source & stylistic information

issues: Abbreviated octaves' notation