mUltimate Chopin

Op. 12, Variations in B♭ major

Text Compare Notes Sources Description
Select: 
Category
All
Graphic ambiguousness
Interpretations within context
Differences between sources
Editorial revisions
Corrections & alterations
Source & stylistic information
Notation
All
Pitch
Rhythm
Slurs
Articulation, Accents, Hairpins
Verbal indications
Pedalling
Fingering
Ornaments
Shorthand & other
Importance
All
Important
Main
Undo Clear

b. 174

composition: Op. 12, Variations in B♭ major

b2, b2 & b3 in FE (→GE)

b2, b2 & b3 in EE
..

In EE the flat restoring b2 on the 8th semiquaver was added in print, hence it was absent in the basis delivered from Paris. Therefore, it does not come from Chopin, who almost certainly did not proofread EE. It does not completely rule out the authenticity of this version, since the notation of accidentals is inaccurate in a number of places in the Variations, and an accidental placed too late would not be unusual – cf., e.g. bar 172. On the other hand, the FE version (→GE) actually does not contain a mistake (the  added to b3 in the main text is formally a cautionary accidental), while the melodic motif constituted by the first 4 semiquavers in the 2nd half of the bar was used two bars earlier, at the beginning of bar 172. Taking into account the above, in the main text we provide a supplemented version of FE (→GE). The EE text can be considered an acceptable variant.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: EE revisions , Accidentals in different octaves

b. 175-176

composition: Op. 12, Variations in B♭ major

..

In FE (→EE) in bars 175-176 in the L.H. the naturals were placed next to the d1 notes. It must be a mistake, since d1 does not require a  in this case; the only note that could require a natural would be b, in each of these bars. In the main text we include a respective correction, introduced by GE, as well as add cautionary flats to b1 at the end of the bars. The change in GE could be attributed to Chopin, as the sound of the FE version (→EE) does not provide any grounds for intervention. However, it is uncertain, as a careful reviser could have noticed the unjustified nature of the naturals to d1, described above, and found an explanation suggested by us, taking into account a few other cases of misplaced accidentals in FE.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE , GE revisions , Authentic corrections of FE , Errors repeated in EE

b. 177-178

composition: Op. 12, Variations in B♭ major

..

In FE Chopin omitted the accidentals to the top notes of the b2-b3 octaves in bars 177-178 and the e1-e2 octaves in bar 178 (broken or simultaneous). The necessary accidentals were added only in GE and only in the R.H. 

category imprint:

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

b. 179

composition: Op. 12, Variations in B♭ major

..

In FE (→EE) the  raising e2 to e2 in the L.H. was omitted. The mistake was corrected in GE.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

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

b. 179

composition: Op. 12, Variations in B♭ major

 in FE (→GE), contextual interpretation

in EE
..

In FE (→GE) we can see here "zf", which we change to the correct . The issue of the Chopinesque notation of forzato and its variants in other sources is discussed in detail in the note in bar 1. In EE it was revised differently, arbitrarily, providing a  indication.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccuracies in FE