GE1
Main text
A - Autograph
GE - German edition
GE1 - First German edition
FE - French edition
FE1 - First French edition
EE - English edition
EE1 - First English edition
EE2 - Corrected impression of EE1
IE - Italian edition
IE1 - First Italian edition
compare
  b. 168

Notation in A, literal reading

A (probable interpretation→GEFE,EE,IE)

A, possible interpretation

In A the rhythmic values of the first two L.H. notes are almost certainly erroneous:

  • The B quaver is prolonged twice – with an additional crotchet and an additional minim, which cannot be justified by the figuration structure, as the "voice" starting from the crotchet is not continued.
  • The f quaver is additionally prolonged to a double-dotted crotchet, as a result of which it has to be temporarily held at the beginning of the 2nd half of the bar, which is contrary to the harmonic and pianistic logic. Chopin committed a similar mistake on a few other occasions, e.g. in the Variations in B, Op. 2, bar 45 or in the Concerto in F minor, Op. 21, II mov., bar 6.

In this notation two rhythmic schemes used in adjacent figures overlap – prolonging the bass note to a minim (as in several dozen previous figures) and prolonging the first two quavers to a crotchet and a double-dotted crotchet (as in the next bar). The obvious explanation for such a combination is an unfinished or an erroneous correction – Chopin either wanted to replace one of the described ways of notation by the other one, yet he did not finish the correction, leaving both versions, or he entered one of them by mistake. In both cases he intended to use only one scheme; as it cannot be stated which one, we suggest both solutions. According to us, the addition of the minim is more likely (on purpose or by mistake), while the presence of pedalling seems to point to a purposeful change, since a half-bar pedal would obliterate the sound effect of the held notes, which was precisely marked. In the alternative version we omit the erroneous 2nd dot extending the f crotchet.
The version as in our main text is also to be found in the first editions, probably due to a revision performed with the least effort possible – the notation of the previous figures was repeated, rejecting the erroneous (double-dotted f crotchet) or the superfluous (B crotchet) elements of the A notation.

Compare the passage in the sources »

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: Corrections in A, Errors resulting from corrections, GE revisions, Rhythmic errors, Errors of A

notation: Rhythm

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