mUltimate Chopin

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Errors repeated in GE

b. 8

composition: Op. 28 No. 22, Prelude in G minor

Quaver in A (→FC), contextual interpretation (→FE→EE)
..

The chord in the R.H. part in A (→FC→GE) is a crotchet, which, along with the rests filling 5 quavers, adds up to 7 quavers. The way the R.H. part is distributed over the R.H. shows that the excess rhythmic values are to be looked for on the 2nd or 3rd quaver – either Chopin forgot to write a quaver flag to the stem of the chord or he unnecessarily wrote a rest over the 3rd L.H. quaver. In the editors' opinion the former – an erroneous oversight of one element of notation – is more likely than the latter – entering a superfluous rest. Adding a quaver flag is also how this passage was corrected in FE (→EE).
GE repeated the mistaken rhythm after FC, and what is more, erroneously placed all 3 rests following the chord in the 2nd half of the bar, over the 3 L.H. octaves (the identical error in distribution.of rests was also comitted in FE).

The erroneous notation of the sources is reproduced in the graphic transcription ("transcript" version). In the content transcription ("edited text") we interpret the text of A, FC and FE in accordance with the correction introduced in FE, and the text of GE the alternative way.

The chord in the R.H. part in A (→FC→GE) is a crotchet, which, along with the rests filling 5 quavers, results in 7 quavers. The mistake was corrected in FE (→EE) by adding a quaver flag to the stem of the chord. We also believe that the notation should be corrected like that:

  • such a rhythm results from the way the L.H. part is written under the R.H., especially in the 1st half of the bar;
  • an erroneous oversight of one element of notation – a quaver flag – seems to be more likely than entering a superfluous or wrong rest.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Errors of A , FE revisions , Errors repeated in GE

b. 11

composition: Op. 28 No. 7, Prelude in A major

..

In A (→FE,FC→GE1) there is no  raising d2 to d2. In the context of a similar move in b. 3, it is a patent oversight, corrected by the revisers of GE2 and EE. Sharps, coming from Chopin, were added in pencil in FED, FES and FESch; both sharps are also in CXI. On the basis of the poorly legible photocopy of CGS at the disposal of the editors of mUltimate Chopin, it is difficult to clearly interpret the notation of that source; however, it is most likely that they are two sharps.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Annotations in teaching copies , EE revisions , Annotations in FED , GE revisions , Errors of A , Annotations in FES , Annotations in FESch , Errors repeated in GE , Errors repeated in FE

b. 12

composition: Op. 28 No. 1, Prelude in C major

..

In GE the middle note of the 2nd triplet is an erroneous d1. It is a consequence of the note having been inaccurately placed – too low – in FC.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in FC , Errors repeated in GE

b. 13-16

composition: Op. 28 No. 2, Prelude in A minor

L.H. slur in A (→FE→EE)

No slur in bars 14-16 in FC

No slur in bars 13-16 in GE
..

The missing ending of the L.H. slur in b. 14-16 in FC must be a result of distraction of the copyist, who forgot to continue the slur in a new line (he also overlooked the slur in b. 18-19; cf. also the note to b. 5-10). This mistake – not continuing the slur in a new line – was repeated in GE, in which the slur is already absent in b. 13 due to a different division of the text into great staves.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE , Errors of FC , Errors repeated in GE

b. 14-22

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

..

In this Prelude Chopin generally did not put accidentals before the top notes of broken octaves – see b. 1-4. In the discussed bars, the problem concerns the following notes:

  • in b. 14 c2, d2, d2 and e2,
  • in b. 15 and 17 e2, d2, f2 and g2,
  • in b. 16 e2, d2, f2 and b2,
  • in b. 18 e2, d2, f2 and e2,
  • in b. 19 e2,
  • in b. 21 a2, b2 and e3.

Such a notation is in A (→FC,FE), whereas EE, GE1 and GE2 added the majority of the necessary accidentals (21, 18 and 22 out of necessary 24, respectively).

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

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