mUltimate Chopin

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Errors repeated in EE

b. 6

composition: Op. 50 No. 3, Mazurka in C♯ minor

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Both autographs are lacking in the  raising a1 to a1. The mistake is also in EE, where it was repeated after the proof copy of FE. In the very FE Chopin added the overlooked accidental; the correct text is also in GE.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Errors of A , Authentic corrections of FE , Last key signature sign , Errors repeated in EE

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. 6-11

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

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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. 6

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

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The sources do not contain an accidental before the top note of the third on the 4th quaver in the bar, as a result of which it should be interpreted as e-g. It must be Chopin's inadvertence – the characteristic f(-d1) – e-g – e-a sequence appears 10 times throughout the Prelude (excluding this place), always with g, even when it is preceded by a g-e sixth (in b. 41). Analogous sequences are to be found on a number of occasions also in other harmonic contexts, always with a minor third on the second quaver. Therefore, Chopin was fully entitled to consider the  to be obvious in this place.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Editorial revisions

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

b. 6

composition: Op. 28 No. 13, Prelude in F♯ major

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The  restoring g in the 2nd half of the bar is absent in all the sources. It is one of Chopin's most common mistakes. The g note is so obvious that EE did not notice the mistake in spite of the cautionary  having been added before g1 in the 2nd R.H. chord.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

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