mUltimate Chopin

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Errors of FC

b. 5-12

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

Slur in bars 5-12 in A (→FE→EE)

Slur in bars 5-8 in FC

Slurs in bars 5-6 & 7-8 in GE

Slur in bars 10-12 in CGS
..

The slur, encompassing the entire L.H. part in these bars, was reproduced incompletely in some sources, while GE reproduced it inaccurately:

  • In FC Fontana overlooked the ending of the slur in the last line of his copy (b. 9-12). Although the slur of FC suggests a continuation at the end of b. 8, GE considered it an inaccuracy and led the slur only to B1 in that bar.
  • Moreover, in GE the issue of combining the slurs in b. 6-7 remains unclear – the slur in b. 6, at the end of the line, may suggest a continuation, which is not confirmed by the slur in b. 7. We assume that they are divided slurs.
  • In CGS the first L.H. slur appears only just in b. 10-12. The beginning of that slur, suggesting a continuation from the previous bar, proves a serious inadvertence of the copyist.

A slur compliant with the notation of A is to be found in FE (→EE) only. 

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GE , Errors of FC , Errors in CGS

b. 6-9

composition: Op. 28 No. 23, Prelude in F major

3 slurs in A (→FE→EE)

2 slurs in FC (→GE)
..

The slurring of FC (→GE) proves the copyist's distraction, perhaps due to haste. The change between b. 6 and 7 could be explained by an inaccurate interpretation of the ending of the slur added in A (Chopin must have meant leading the slur to the last semiquaver in the bar and not combining it with the next one). The broken slur between b. 7 and 8 probably is an inaccurate interpretation of A (the fragment of the slur at the beginning of b. 8 is poorly visible in A) or a mistake (b. 8 ends the line in FC, just as b. 7, which begins similarly, ends the line in A). The slur at the end of b. 8, which ends the line, implying that it should be continued may have simply been carelessly written down.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors of FC

b. 6

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

Minim & rest in A (→FE→EE)

Dotted minim in FC (→GE)
..

The longer chord in the 2nd half of the bar must be Fontana's mistake.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors of FC

b. 6

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

Pedalling in A (→FE→EE)

No markings in FC (→GE)
..

The missing pedalling markings are one of a few oversights of the copyist in this Prelude.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors of FC

b. 7-8

composition: Op. 25 No 6, Etude in G♯ minor

No accidentals in FC (→GE1), FE & EE

Naturals in GE2 (→GE3)

Naturals suggested by the editors
..

In front of the 2nd semiquaver in each of these bars, there are no accidentals in the sources except for naturals added in GE2 (→GE3), which cannot come from Chopin. Therefore, it seems that the top note is supposed to be a2. However, there are strong grounds, both source (proved also in other pieces Chopin's doubts concerning the notation of a/a notes in the G minor key) and stylistic (natural harmonic passage), for considering it as Chopin's mistake. Therefore, in the main text we suggest to add naturals to achieve the sound of a2.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: Errors in FE , Errors in EE , Errors in GE , GE revisions , Last key signature sign , Errors of FC