mUltimate Chopin

Op. 28 No. 16, Prelude in B♭ minor

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b. 23

composition: Op. 28 No. 16, Prelude in B♭ minor

..

The fragment of the figuration from the 2nd to the 13th semiquaver is actually a repetition (an octave higher) of a respective fragment of the preceding bar (from the 6th semiquaver). The only difference is the 1st semiquaver in the 3rd group of that bar, f3, in relation to f2 in b. 22. Many editors of subsequent collective editions considered it to be Chopin's mistake and changed f3 to f3. According to us, there are not enough reasons for such a change:

  • in a similar figuration in b. 4-5 the sequence of intervals in b. 4 is completely different than in b. 5, which shows that Chopin did not strive for a strict repetition of the intervals used an octave lower;
  • the initial version of b. 22 contained more differences, since the 5th, 7th, 8th and 10th semiquavers were written half a tone lower;
  • Chopin's possible oversight would concern two accidentals – the  before f3 at the beginning of the 3rd group of semiquavers and the  restoring f3 at the end, which reduces the chances of mistake.

category imprint: Source & stylistic information

b. 23

composition: Op. 28 No. 16, Prelude in B♭ minor

..

We omit a cautionary  before d3 in the main text.

category imprint: Editorial revisions; Source & stylistic information

issues: Cautionary accidentals

b. 24

composition: Op. 28 No. 16, Prelude in B♭ minor

e-c1-g1 in A (→FC,FE→EE)

g-g1 in GE
..

The version of GE must be erroneous, although it is difficult to say what could have misled the engraver.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE

b. 24

composition: Op. 28 No. 16, Prelude in B♭ minor

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In the main text we add a cautionary  before g3. The accidental was already added in EE.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: EE revisions

b. 25

composition: Op. 28 No. 16, Prelude in B♭ minor

a2 in A (→FE,FC→GE)

f2 in EE
..

The EE version is certainly a mistake.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in EE , Terzverschreibung error