mUltimate Chopin

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Authentic corrections of FC

b. 9-11

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

legato & staccato two times in A

legato & staccato in FC (→GE) & EE

staccato two times in FE
..

The legato and staccato indications, in A written both in bar 9 and two bars later, were deleted in the second place by Chopin in FC (→GE); they are also absent in EE. In turn, in FE staccato was reproduced in both bars, yet both legato indications were omitted. It can be an oversight of the engraver or Chopin's correction – the legato articulation is indicated by slurs.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Authentic corrections of FC

b. 9

composition: Op. 25 No 5, Etude in E minor

f in FC (→GE) & EE1

E in FE & EE2 (→EE3)
..

Both versions of the 1st note of this bar are undoubtedly authentic, yet determining which one could have been considered final by Chopin faces major difficulties. The version with f seems to be later, as in FC one can see a correction in which the composer most probably deleted E and added f, whereas a similar correction was most probably also in the base text to EE. However, while proofreading FE later, Chopin did not introduce this change, in spite of the fact that he corrected the last chord in bar 8, positioned just next to it (1 cm). Therefore, in the main text we follow the version of the base source, i.e. FE.  

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: EE revisions , Chopin's hesitations , Accompaniment changes , Authentic corrections of FC

b. 11-12

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

No signs in A (→FE)

  in FC (→GE) & EE
..

In the main text we give a pair of   hairpins added most probably by Chopin in FC and base text to EE.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Authentic corrections of FC

b. 13

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

in FC (→GE)

No indication in FE (→EE)

Our variant suggestion
..

As in bar 1, the  indication does not seem to have been added to FC by Chopin, which means that it could have been removed in the stage of proofreading FE or in the basis thereof. Not having certainty as to the chronology of the versions, in the main text we suggest a variant solution.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Authentic corrections of FE , Authentic corrections of FC

b. 15-16

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

Wedges in bars 15-16 in A

Wedges in FC (→GE)

Wedges in bar 15 in FE

Wedge in EE
..

According to us, the wedges visible in A in bar 15 (repeated in FE) and at the beginning of bar 16 (omitted) remained non-deleted as a result of Chopin's distraction. The distraction is proven by the rhythmic error committed earlier in this bar, while the intention to delete the staccato signs is proven by deletions of the signs or entire chords in the 1st half of bar 15 and a few previous bars. In the main text, we give three wedges in bar 16, added probably by Chopin in FC (→GE) and signalised also in EE (cf. bar 16).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Authentic corrections of FC