mUltimate Chopin

Op. 28 No. 12, Prelude in G♯ minor

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b. 27-32

composition: Op. 28 No. 12, Prelude in G♯ minor

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In these bars Chopin would consistently put accidentals in A (→FE) only next to the bottom notes of the L.H. octaves (or not at all, as is the case with the 2nd crotchet in b. 27-28). Moreover, in b. 32 the  lowering c1 to c1 was crossed out in A! In FC Fontana added only 4 naturals concerning c1, while GE and EE contain all necessary accidentals.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources; Source & stylistic information

issues: EE revisions , Accidentals in different octaves , GE revisions , Deletions in A , Fontana's revisions , Inaccuracies in A , Errors repeated in FE

b. 30

composition: Op. 28 No. 12, Prelude in G♯ minor

d1-d2 in A (→FC,FE), contextual interpretation

d1-d2 in A (→FC,FE), possible interpretation, & GE1 & EE

d1-d2 in GE2 (→GE3)
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There are no accidentals before the last octave in A (→FC,FE), which results in d1-d2, which is a patent mistake. There are two possibilities:

  • Chopin meant a d1-d2 octave, yet he forgot to write a  next to the bottom note of the octave (version of GE1 and EE);
  • Chopin meant a d1-d2 octave, but he did not cancel the previous  next to the top note of the octave (version of GE2).

According to us, it is the latter that is much more likely, as it is suggested by the harmonic analogy in b. 29-30 and 31-32.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations; Source & stylistic information

issues: EE revisions , Omissions to cancel alteration , GE revisions , Errors of A , Errors repeated in FE

b. 32

composition: Op. 28 No. 12, Prelude in G♯ minor

c-f-c1 in A (→FE,FC→GE)

B-f-c1 in EE
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The EE version is certainly a mistake by the engraver.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in EE

b. 33-34

composition: Op. 28 No. 12, Prelude in G♯ minor

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Starting from the 2nd beat of b. 33, the R.H. part was enhanced by Chopin; he crossed out the earlier version, which we present below: . The changes consisted in making the bottom voice independent and in rejecting short slurs in favour of a longer phrase mark. Considerable corrections can also be seen in the following bars – see the notes to b. 36, 37-38 and 39. 

category imprint: Corrections & alterations; Source & stylistic information

issues: Corrections in A , Deletions in A , Accompaniment changes

b. 35

composition: Op. 28 No. 12, Prelude in G♯ minor

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FE1 overlooked the accidentals before the 2nd L.H. crotchet. The patent mistake was corrected in FE2 (→EE).

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE , FE revisions