mUltimate Chopin

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Omission of current key accidentals

b. 2

composition: Op. 64 No 2, Waltz in C♯ minor

a-c1 in As (literal reading)

a-c1 in As (probable interpretation)

a-c1-d1 in AI (literal reading)

a-c1-d1 in AI (contextual interpretation)

d-a-c1 in A & FE (→GE,EE)
..

In the previous autographs, Chopin tried varied versions of chords in this bar. Eventually, he used the original version only (with an a-c1 third) at the return of this phrase in bar 18. In both previous autographs, it is the absence of a  raising a to a that draws attention. According to us, it is not a harmonic variant, yet an inaccuracy of notation, therefore, we consider a literal interpretation (without ) in these sources only a highly unlikely variant.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Omission of current key accidentals

b. 4

composition: Op. 35, Sonata in B♭ minor, Mvt II

..

FE (except for FE4) lacks in five necessary accidentals – naturals before d2 and b and sharps before f, f2 and g2. This patent inaccuracy certainly has its source in the notation of [A]. Similarly in GC, in which, however, Chopin added a  raising b to b. In GC (→GE) there are also no naturals before the last octave in the R.H. – it can be an oversight of the copyist or a later addition in [A]. In the remaining sources the signs were completed (all additions can be attributed to a revision): three were added in EE1 and FE4, four in GE; only EE2 includes the correct notation. Cf. bar 24.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Accidentals in different octaves , Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccuracies in FE , GE revisions , Omission of current key accidentals , FE revisions , Inaccuracies in GC , Authentic corrections in GC

b. 5-6

composition: WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

..

In JC, there are no flats lowering a and a1 into a and a1. The undeniable oversight of Chopin in [A] (→JC) is revealed by the cautionary  before a in bar 7. 

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Cautionary accidentals , Omission of current key accidentals , Errors of JC

b. 5

composition: Op. 28 No. 14, Prelude in E♭ minor

c-c1 w A, literal reading (→FE,FC→GE1)

c-c1 in EE, GE2 (→GE3) & FES
..

The missing naturals raising c-c1 to c-c1 are almost certainly Chopin's mistake. It is indicated by the naturals added by Chopin in FES as well as by the cautionary  written in A before c1 in the next bar (eventually crossed out), which suggests that Chopin assumed that it was c that was valid there*.
The naturals were added in EE and GE2 (→GE3).

* A precautionary approach should be taken in the case of a reasoning based on a cautionary accidental – in b. 12 in A we can also observe crossed-out flats before c-c1, although the sound of those notes had already been consolidated at the beginning of b. 10 (Chopin was not always certain which accidentals were included in the key signature).

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources; Source & stylistic information

issues: Annotations in teaching copies , EE revisions , GE revisions , Omission of current key accidentals , Deletions in A , Annotations in FES , Last key signature sign

b. 7-10

composition: Op. 28 No. 3, Prelude in G major

..

FCI does not contain any accidentals in the R.H. part in these bars. The missing sharps in b. 7 and 9 are a patent inaccuracy (formally speaking, a cautionary  in b. 10 is not indispensable due to the presence of corresponding sharps in the L.H., i.e. raising c1 to c1). Such an incomplete notation was probably present already in the lost autograph that served as the basis for this copy, since it seems unlikely that the copyist would selectively omit marks on the top stave (see also b. 16-17).
There is no  in bar 7 in FC, too – the visible accidental was pencilled in by H. Scholtz, the later owner of FC. The obvious oversight was corrected in GE.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: GE revisions , Omission of current key accidentals , Errors of FC