Op. 49, Fantaisie in F minor

FE1 was based on a lost copy by Fontana ([FC]) and corrected by Chopin. It contains a very large number of errors and inaccuracies.

As [FC] is lost, in many places it is uncertain whether the possible Chopinesque corrections or additions were being introduced into the copy or only just at the stage of proofreading FE1. In order not to attribute uncertain features to the lost source, we tag such situations as "Authentic FE corrections" even where a correction to [FC] seems more likely.

Chopin's unquestionable or highly likely corrections to FE1 include:

• changing the position of the last L.H. chord in bars 26 and 34;
• removing e¹ in bar 122;
• replacing the a dotted minim with a minim and a crotchet in bar 218;
• changing the bottom note of the 3rd quaver in bar 251 to d¹;

Illustrative, authentic FE1 versions, introduced while proofreading this edition or earlier into [FC]:

• removed g on the 2nd beat of bar 28;
• added  in bar 41;
• longer R.H. slurs in bars 77-84,
• slurs and L.H. arpeggios in bars 85-86 and 89-90, and slurs also in bars 172-173 and 176-177;
• L.H. arpeggios in bar 87 and 91-92, as well as 174-175 and 178-179;
• accents in bar 153;
• more accurate pedal markings in bars 162-163;
• finished R.H. slur in bars 191-196.
• g in chords in bar 195 (instead of b, which is in A);
• slur over the octaves in bars 197-198;
• dotted rhythm in bar 203;
• 3rd L.H. e quaver in bar 241 (instead of f, which is in A);
• arpeggio at the end of bar 321.

In FE1 a significant number of mistakes was committed, e.g.:

• b¹ instead of c² in bar 3, e¹ instead of d¹ in bar 117 and 137, f¹ instead of g¹ in bar 119, b¹ instead of c² and c² instead of e² in bar 250, d instead of c in bar 263, d² instead of c² in bar 308;
• no c¹ in the chord in bar 8;
• e¹ instead of f¹ in bar 20, f²-b² fourth instead of g²-b² third in bar 240;
• Terzverschreibung errors in bar 30 and 238;
•  instead of  as a new time signature in bar 43;
• overlooked ties to B-f in bar 58;
• overlooked  lowering g¹ to g¹ in bar 185.

Some mistakes and inaccuracies were repeated in FE1 after A, e.g.:

• no accidentals cancelling alterations in bar 77, 78 and 82;
• some accidentals in the passages in bars 87-88, 144 and 146 are missing;
• no accidentals, necessary in the current key in bars 135-136 and 142.

In FE1 some undoubtedly erroneous changes were introduced as well, e.g.:

• adding a  raising d¹ to d¹ in bar 147;
• adding unjustified "ties" in bars 180-187.

The status of the flats lowering c¹⁽²⁾ to c¹⁽²⁾ in bars 180-181 added while proofreading FE1 is unclear – according to us, whoever added them, he could have done it by mistake; however, it cannot be totally ruled out that it is an authentic variant, eventually rejected while proofreading FE2.