Piano Forum

Hi, I'm working on Prelude No. 1, Op 32 of Rachmaninoff and am struggling with some of the accidentals--I'm uncertain when do they carry over within the measure and when do they not.  For example measure 8, the F# in the left hand (treble clef) would imply that the chord in the right hand that follows (B, F, and G) would be an F# not a F natural.  But it seems like it could go either way and I am unconvinced that it sounds better as F#.  Another case is measure 23, which is the most confusing--the E flat in the right and left hand at the start of the measure would imply an E flat immediately following in the right hand but it doesn't make sense since the line is descending chromatically and would really make sense as E natural.  Same thing happens in the left hand a little later, same measure, where the E should be flat but it sounds like it should be natural.  The reason I question that the accidentals carry over is because of measure 18--in that case they definitely do not carry over.  The G flat in the left hand implies G flat in the right hand but that doesn't work at all.  Any feedback from people who have studied this piece would be welcomed.  Thank you!