Prelude, Op. 28, No. 20 (Chopin)
composition by Frédéric Chopin
The Prelude Op. 28, No. 20, in C minor by Frédéric Chopin was dubbed the "Funeral March" by Hans von Bülow but is commonly known as the "Chord Prelude" due to its slow progression of quarter note chords. It was written between 1831 and 1839.
The prelude was originally written in two sections of four measures. Chopin later added a repeat of the last four measures at a softer level, with an expressive swell before the final cadence. In addition, the prelude uses lament bass in two of the three sections, a technique commonly used to denote sadness or sorrow.
Bar 3 ambiguity
In many printed scores (for example "Chopin Masterpieces for Solo Piano", Dover Publications Ltd 1998), the last E of bar 3 in the right hand has no flat accidental to cancel the natural accidental of the previous E in the same bar. Therefore, this second E should also be played as E♮. However, most performances contradict the printed score, playing an E♭.
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