mUltimate Chopin

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Unclear hairpins in A

b. 4

composition: Op. 25 No 1, Etude in A♭ major

No signs in CDP & EE

Accent &  in AI

 in A

 in GE1

  in FE & GE1a (→GE2)

 in GE3
..

In the main text we give a pair of   hairpins, being a result of Chopin proofreading of GE1a (→GE2); it is also FE that has identical indications. Hence Chopin returned – in a modified form – to the original idea written in AI. The abbreviated sign of GE1 is an attempt to interpret a not entirely clear notation of A; another attempt was made in GE3, ignoring the authentic proofreading of GE1a.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: GE revisions , Authentic corrections of GE , Unclear hairpins in A

b. 10

composition: Op. 27 No 2, Nocturne in D♭ major

and espressivo in A

GE

FE

EE

Our suggestion based on A
..

The hairpins in A have the upper arm much longer than the lower one, yet the beginning of that sign is clearly linked with the second quaver of the bar. In GE the hairpins were matched to the beam, which was reproduced (with slight inaccuracies) in FE and EE.

We place the indication espressivo above the upper staff, not to interfere with  .

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Unclear hairpins in A

b. 10

composition: Op. 27 No 2, Nocturne in D♭ major

 A, upper arm

GE (→FE→EE)
..

The point where the mark begins in A is difficult to define, as its upper arm is clearly longer than the lower one. In GE, the upper arm reaching the beginning of the 2nd half of the bar was considered decisive; this is consistent with the general sign interpretation tendency in that edition. Hairpins of that length were also reproduced, with slight inaccuracies, in FE and EE. However, in the editors' opinion, the starting points of both marks in that bar were supposed to highlight the highest notes of the melody (cf. the previous remark).

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Unclear hairpins in A

b. 10-11

composition: Op. 25 No 1, Etude in A♭ major

No sign in CDP & AI

 in A

 in GE & FE

 in EE

 suggested by the editors
..

The  hairpins in A are written inaccurately – at the right-hand end, their arms are of different length, hence in GE they reach up to the middle of the 3rd group of semiquavers. The beginning of the sign, at the end of bar 10, also seems to have been added too early, which is indicated by the  mark, contrary to it, added in bar 10 in a proofreading of GE2, as well as by the hairpins in FE and EE.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GE , Unclear hairpins in A , Inaccuracies in A

b. 14

composition: Op. 29, Impromptu in A♭ major

 
 
 
..

The sources differ in the range of dynamic hairpins. A's notation is ambiguous ‒ the lower arm is much shorter. Half-bar hairpins of GE are clearly longer than in A, on which the edition was based. It is a typical example of the manner of adjusting marks to the metric units.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Scope of dynamic hairpins , Unclear hairpins in A