mUltimate Chopin

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Enharmonic corrections

b. 35-36

composition: Op. 10 No 4, Etude in C♯ minor

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In both these bars, on the 12th, 13th and 16th semiquavers, AI has a c (in different octaves) and not a d. The correction from d2 to c2 on the 13th semiquaver in bar 35 indicates Chopin's hesitation, as eventually – in FE (→GE,EE) – all these notes were written as d. 

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Chopin's hesitations , Enharmonic corrections

b. 37

composition: Op. 35, Sonata in B♭ minor, Mvt III

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The second quaver is written in Amar as f. The deletions seem to prove hesitation concerning the pitch or notation of this note. As a consequence, Amar does not include a  before e, the 6th quaver.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Enharmonic corrections

b. 38

composition: Op. 10 No 3, Etude in E major

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The bottom note of the 2nd semiquaver is written in AI as e, while before the bottom note of the next semiquaver there is no  returning e. In the context of a more precise notation of the later sources, the lack of  must be considered as a mistake, in spite of the fact that from the purely harmonic point of view, the version with the repeated e would not be entirely impossible (although rather not in the stylistics of young Chopin, who showed a clear preference for diminished four-note chords). In A one can see traces of change of this e to f. Cf. the Prelude in C minor, Op. 45, bar 79. 

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Enharmonic corrections

b. 42

composition: Op. 10 No 4, Etude in C♯ minor

AI, literal reading

AI, possible interpretation

FE (→GE,EE)

Our suggestion
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When interpreted literally, AI has in the last group of semiquavers two notes different than in the published version: the 2nd semiquaver a (without ) and the 4th semiquaver A. According to us, it is a result of overlapping of inaccuracies and corrections, while the text intended by Chopin does not differ from the text of the remaining sources:  

  • at the time of writing a Chopin most probably had a in mind and he even started writing a  before this note. Instead of finishing the sign, he probably decided to change it to g, although the remade (?) note still is more similar to a/a;
  • the last semiquaver is probably written inaccurately, too low.

In the main text we give the version of FE (→GE,EE), completed with the cautionary  before g.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Interpretations within context; Differences between sources; Editorial revisions; Corrections & alterations

issues: Enharmonic corrections , Inaccurate note pitch in A

b. 47

composition: Op. 10 No 2, Etude in A minor

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In CLI the 7th semiquaver is written as d3.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Enharmonic corrections