mUltimate Chopin

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Rhythmic errors

b. 48

composition: Op. 30 No. 4, Mazurka in C# minor

Quaver & quaver rest in FC (contextual interpretation→GE1) & FE (→EE)

Dotted quaver & semiquaver rest in GE2
..

In FC the last L.H. f1 note is a dotted quaver, as a result of which the bar includes one semiquaver too many. The mistake was corrected in GE1 to a version that is also in FE (→EE); therefore, we give it in the main text. The GE2 version is an alternative revision of the erroneous FC notation, not devoid of logic with respect to the R.H. rhythm, but almost certainly inauthentic.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: GE revisions , Rhythmic errors , Errors of FC

b. 52

composition: Op. 25 No 4, Etude in A minor

Crotchet in A (→FE,FC→GE1) & EE

Quaver in GE2 (→GE3)
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The seemingly erroneous notation of A and of the remaining sources (except for GE2 and GE3) could have been intended by Chopin, although in this Etude, he used the notation compliant with the rules in similar cases. In other pieces, rhythmic values exceeding the bar were used by Chopin both in autographs (e.g., the Concerto in F minor, Op. 21, 1st mov., bars 278-279, 3rd mov., bars 423-424) and corrections of print (the Polonaise in C minor, Op. 26 No. 1, bars 19-20). On the other hand, one cannot exclude a simple oversight of the quaver flag (cf. bar 15).

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: GE revisions , Rhythmic errors , Errors of A

b. 56

composition: Op. 27 No 2, Nocturne in D♭ major

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The rhythmic group on the 4th quaver of the bar was mistakenly written in A with the use of  notes with twice as long rhythmic values : . In GE that mistake was only partly corrected: , and it was in FE (→EE) that the correct text was inserted: .

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE , GE revisions , Rhythmic errors , Errors of A , FE revisions

b. 56

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

6 notes on 5th quaver-beat in AsI

6 notes on 5th quaver-beat in AsI

5 notes in A (→GE→FE,EE,FESB), interpretation

5 notes in A (→GE→FE,EE,FESB), interpretation
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In A and in all editions, over the 5-note 1st half of the figure on the 3rd beat of the bar, we can observe a seemingly wrong digit – 6. However, the error consists in a missing note – a2 between b2 and g2 – which is proven by:

  • the text of AsI, which includes this note – visible are 6 note stems, although the pitch of the penultimate one is unclear (the ledger line is inaccurately written). The figure begins with a written-out turn, like the three remaining similar phrases in b. 55-57;
  • discrepancy between the number of the notes and the actual number, which means that Chopin did not realise that he was entering a text containing a smaller number of notes. Therefore, it is not a change of concept but an oversight.

The mistake remained unnoticed, both by Chopin (who was probably proofreading GE1 and certainly FE1) and by the revisers, who did not check the rhythmic correctness of this figure.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Rhythmic errors , Errors of A , Errors repeated in GE , Errors repeated in FE , Errors repeated in EE

b. 56-57

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

Demisemiquavers in AsI

Rhythms with rest in A (→GE→FE,EE,FESB)
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category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations; Source & stylistic information

issues: Rhythmic errors , Main-line changes