There are no accidentals to the chords in the middle of bar 185 and 187 in A (→GE) and FE1, which, when interpreted literally, results in E
chords in both places, with g1 and g2. This seemingly consistent oscillation between the E minor (the quaver figures in bar 184 and 186) and E keys (the discussed chords) must have resulted from Chopin's mistakes:
- If the described effect were intentional, Chopin would have probably marked it more accurately, adding at least one cautionary
to g1 in bar 185. - When using the authentic pedalling, the E chords would overlap the fading out E minor chords, which is inconceivable in this context.
- Contrary to the modern notation adopted to our transcriptions, Chopin would repeat accidentals to notes held to the following bar. Consequently, both at the beginning of bar 185 and in bar 187 there is a
to g, which Chopin would often unconsciously consider to be a clear enough signal for the notes in other octaves as well (cf., e.g. the notation in bars 149-152). - In both places Chopin was making corrections to A, which probably distracted him.
All the necessary flats were added – probably at Chopin's request – in FE1 in bar 187 (with a mistake – a to e1 instead of to g1) and in FE2 (→EE) in bar 185; however, they were not added in GE.
In the main text we omit the to the g2 quaver at the end of bar 187, unnecessary in the corrected version.
Compare the passage in the sources »
category imprint: Differences between sources
issues: Omission of current key accidentals, Errors of A, Authentic corrections of FE, Last key signature sign
notation: Pitch