mUltimate Chopin

Op. 28 No. 9, Prelude in E major

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b. 2

composition: Op. 28 No. 9, Prelude in E major

c in A (→FC→GE1, →FE→EE) & CGS

d in $GE2 (→GE3)
..

The version of GE2 is a result of an arbitrary revision, provoked by a mistake committed in GE1 in the next triplet, i.e. a c was printed there instead of a d, which is a patent mistake. While correcting that place the reviser of GE2 probably started thinking that the middle notes of the triplets are to create an octave echo of the melodic notes in this entire fragment (b. 1-3 corresponding in GE to the first line of the text) and changed c to d also in the 2nd triplet. Consequently, none of the impressions of GE includes the correct text in this bar.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE , GE revisions

b. 4

composition: Op. 28 No. 9, Prelude in E major

B in A (→FC→GE, →FE→EE)

c in CGS
..

The version of CGS must be a mistake of the copyist. Cf. a similar mistake of the engraver of GE1 in b. 2.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in CGS

b. 6-11

composition: Op. 28 No. 9, Prelude in E major

..

As was the case in the Prelude No. 8 in F Minor, Chopin assumed that the middle notes of the triplets did not require an accidental if a respective accidental had been written before a top-voice note placed an octave higher. In A (→FC→FE) and CGS there is not a single out of 8 necessary accidentals –  before c and d in b. 6, g in b. 7, c in b. 9-10, d in b. 10-11 and a  before d in b. 11. The remaining editions added the majority of accidentals; however, none of them features a fully correct text:

  • GE1 added 6 accidentals – the  before c in b. 10 and the  before d in b. 11 were overlooked;
  • GE2 added to them only a  in b. 11;
  • EE1 added 5 accidentals – the  before d in b. 6 and 10 and the  before d in b. 11 were overlooked;
  • EE2 added to them only  before d in b. 6 and 10.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , GE revisions , Inaccuracies in A , Errors repeated in GE , Errors repeated in FE , Errors repeated in EE

b. 7

composition: Op. 28 No. 9, Prelude in E major

F in A (→FC), literal reading

F in FE (→EE), GE & CGS
..

When interpreted literally, the chord on the 3rd beat of the bar in A (→FC) consists of the following notes: F1-F-b-d1-f1, which, in turn, results in a G major chord (F major), which could be a part of this harmonic sequence. However, Chopin would generally avoid such an unnatural orthography; therefore, he most probably overlooked here the naturals lowering all f notes to f. They were added both in FE (→EE) and GE, and the composer did not question the printed naturals in any of the three teaching copies containing annotations coming from him.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: GE revisions , Omission of current key accidentals , Errors of A , FE revisions

b. 7

composition: Op. 28 No. 9, Prelude in E major

..

All sources feature a  (cautionary?) before e1. In the main text we omit that unjustified accidental.

category imprint: Editorial revisions; Source & stylistic information

issues: Cautionary accidentals