Issues : Uncertain notes on ledger lines

b. 2-6

composition: Op. 10 No 2, Etude in A minor

Triad & fifth in CLI

Triads in Ap & FE (→GE,EE)

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The fifth on the 3rd beat of bars 2 and 6 in CLI is probably the original version. The c1 notes were originally absent also in FE, as in both bars Chopin added them in FEcor. Chopin hesitated in which places to put the cautionary naturals before c1, which can already be seen in FEcor, where before the triad on the 2nd beat of bar 2, a  was written and then deleted. Eventually, FE (→EE2EE3) has a sign before the triad on the 3rd beat of the bar, which we adopt to the main text in all analogous bars. GE1 (→GE1a) has a  before the 1st triad in both bars, while in the later editions arbitrary additions were also performed in this respect.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions; Corrections & alterations

issues: Cautionary accidentals , Accompaniment changes , Authentic corrections of FE , Uncertain notes on ledger lines

b. 4-7

composition: Op. 10 No 8, Etude in F major

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These bars, making up the second line of A, contain a few distinct examples of Chopin's manner of writing notes on ledger lines. With the visibility of such a note probably in mind the composer shaped the note-head as a short vertical stroke which sometimes was extended enough to look like an additional downward crotchet stem. In the discussed bars it pertains to R.H. c1 in bars 4-6, as well as c1 and a in bar 7. Telling are in particular the notes in bars 5 and 7, where the descending direction of arpeggios makes any sustentions impossible.

category imprint: Source & stylistic information

issues: Uncertain notes on ledger lines

b. 7

composition: Op. 10 No 2, Etude in A minor

Sixth in CLI

Triad in ApFE (→GE,EE

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The lack of e1 in CLI may be the original version or – which is much more probable – an error of the copyist (omissions of internal notes of the chords written on ledger lines were quite frequent at the time of reading Chopin's autographs).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Uncertain notes on ledger lines

b. 15

composition: Op. 10 No 5, Etude in G♭ major

Three notes in A

Two notes in FE (→GE,EE)

Our variant suggestion

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Lack of ein the editions is, according to us, a result of a misreading of A, yet Chopin could have accepted this version at the stage of proofreading FE. Therefore, in the main text we suggest a variant solution.

In A there are visible traces of corrections, perhaps from the following version:

 

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in FE , Uncertain notes on ledger lines

b. 20-21

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

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In order for the notes on the ledger line to be visible, Chopin would make their noteheads look like short, vertical dashes, and not round dots, as it is on the stave. The bottom part of such a dash could be quite long, which confused the interpreters a few times, who would see it as an additional crotchet stem. The fifth semiquaver in each of these bars illustrates this phenomenon well. Cf., e.g. the Mazurka in B Minor, Op. 24 No. 4, b. 23

category imprint: Source & stylistic information

issues: Uncertain notes on ledger lines