Changes to the accompaniment in the last bar of a phrase are often to be found in Chopin's works. Generally, they consist in the reduction of elements, as a result of which the more or less strict rhythmic pattern gets broken, which, in turn, makes one expect the upcoming change – cf. e.g. the Ballade in G minor, Op. 23, b. 145 or the Prelude in B
minor, Op. 28 No. 16, b. 16-17. Incidentally, in the full version – with orchestra – the pizzicato accompaniment rhythm does not signal the return of the first phrase at all.
The arpeggio marking having been placed after the chord is probably Chopin's mistake, since it is unlikely that a wavy line in this position could have a different meaning than a common arpeggio. Therefore, in the main text we move it to before the chord, in accordance with the correction introduced by the majority of the editions.
Compare the passage in the sources »
category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations; Source & stylistic information
issues: Accompaniment changes
notation: Rhythm
