This and the preceding bar were initially as follows in AImaz (we transpose them to the key of b. 226-227 of the final version):
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Then, probably to avoid a B major chord being repeated four times at the beginning of b. 224-227, Chopin moved the modulation 2 crotchets back:
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Eventually, in FE and GE, Chopin provided b. 226-227 with their final form, in which the enhanced harmonic sequence is combined with the initial version of the melody (more natural and more logical). Chopin most probably introduced that version only while writing [A] of the entire Polonaise. In this situation, it seems highly likely that a similar change was supposed to concern also b. 167-168, while the b2-d3 third at the beginning of b. 168, corresponding to the 2nd phase of works on this fragment, happened to be in the first editions due to Chopin not having finished corrections or due to misunderstandings. Some subsequent collective editions give the version with b2 as the only one.
Taking into account the above, in addition to the version of the editions, we suggest an alternative solution, analogous to b. 227.
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category imprint: Editorial revisions
notation: Pitch