mUltimate Chopin

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Issues : Fontana's revisions

b. 5

composition: Op. 28 No. 8, Prelude in F♯ minor

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In A there is no accidental before the 1st note in the 4th group of demisemiquavers, which should therefore be interpreted as a1. A comparison with analogous b. 1 proves Chopin's mistake; it is also the  before the next a2 that confirms a1 as the intended pitch of that note. The natural was added in FC and FE (→EE); however, it is absent in GE, which is probably an oversight of the engraver.
We omit the cautionary  before a2 in the main text.

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

issues: Errors in GE , Cautionary accidentals , Errors of A , FE revisions , Fontana's revisions

b. 6-13

composition: Op. 28 No. 8, Prelude in F♯ minor

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As was the case in b. 3-4, in A Chopin generally omits accidentals next to the bass quavers if the accidentals have been written an octave higher next to one of the preceding semiquavers. In the discussed bars it concerns f in b. 6, c1 and b in b. 7, g and g in b. 8, f in b. 9 and 11, B and G in b. 11, B in b. 12 and G in b. 13. That notation was literally repeated in FE; in FC almost without changes (only one  added next to B in b. 11). The remaining editions added the majority of the necessary accidentals – in EE1 all except for the  next to G in b. 13, while in GE1 all except for the naturals next to f in b. 6 and G in b. 11 (in GE2 the former was added). It is only EE2 that includes a fully correct notation.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

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

b. 6

composition: Op. 28 No. 21, Prelude in B♭ major

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In FE the  before the 2nd quaver is misplaced: it should be before the bottom note (g), not the top one (e1). The mistake possibly stemmed from the graphical similarity between b. 5 and 6. The correct accidental was added in FES, while FC (→GE) and EE not only added the right flat, but also removed the wrong one.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in FE , Fontana's revisions

b. 8

composition: Op. 28 No. 18, Prelude in F minor

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In A (→FE), Chopin wrote only a  restoring e2 (in the R.H. part). The corresponding sign in the L.H. part was added in FC (→GE) and EE.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

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

b. 9

composition: WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

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In JC, FEF, and PE, the 5th quaver f is not extended to the value of a crotchet. It is certainly a mistake (the notation's inaccuracy), as the necessity to extend stems from the presence of the tie sustaining this note to the minim f in bar 10. Moreover, in JC, the last quaver, f1, is written erroneously in a two-part form. FEF has a correct notation.

category imprint: Source & stylistic information

issues: Errors of JC , Errors in PE , Errors in Fontana's editions , Fontana's revisions