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b. 236-237

composition: (Op. 4), Sonata in C minor, Mvt I

Wedge in A

Wedges in A, possible interpretation

No marks in GE (→FE,EE,IE)

Our variant suggestion

Our alternative variant suggestion

..

One or two wedges between these bars are probably in A. The mark in bar 237 was certainly entered as a wedge, yet the one in bar 236 could be simply a part of the wavy line used by Chopin to mark the range of an octave sign. This wavy line also intersects the wedge in bar 237, which could have been intentional if Chopin had wanted to abandon these marks. The first editions did not include the wedges. In the main text we provide the unquestionable wedge in bar 237 in a variant form (in brackets); at the same time, we suggest an alternative solution (also in brackets), that is both potential wedges. A single wedge is supported by a similar fragment in the exposition, in which a staccato mark is to be seen only over the final chord of the sequence (in bar 73).

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE , Inaccuracies in A

b. 236-237

composition: (Op. 4), Sonata in C minor, Mvt I

8- - - in A

No marking in GE (→FE,EE,IE)

..

The absence of the octave sign in the editions is certainly due to a mistake by the engraver of GE1, who overlooked other elements in these bars as well – a note in bar 236 and a quaver flag and a rest in bar 237.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE

b. 236

composition: (Op. 4), Sonata in C minor, Mvt I

 &  in A, literal reading

2 long accents in GE

2 long accents in EE & IE

3 long accents in FE

2 long accents suggested by the editors

..

Two marks in the form of a hairpin – accents or short diminuendoes – visible in A are difficult to interpret. Neither the nature of the marks (an accent or a diminuendo) nor the stave they should concern are clear. The same can be said of rhythmic synchronisation – the beginning of the mark may be linked to the 2nd (6th) quaver in the bar or the 3rd (7th) quaver. As the A version we reproduce the graphic image of the manuscript (as far as possible). On the other hand, in the main text we provide the most likely, according to us, contextual interpretation, in which we consider both marks to be the continuation of the three long accents over the L.H. minims in the previous bars. Another possibility, although less likely, could be the way these marks were interpreted by GE and a variation of this interpretation adopted by EE and IE (which are surprisingly consistent considering the fact they were created independently). In FE, to the two signs between the staves (in the EE and IE arrangement) a third one was arbitrarily added, under the last L.H. crotchet.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

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

b. 237-238

composition: (Op. 4), Sonata in C minor, Mvt I

No fingering in A (→GEFE,IE)

Fingering in EE

..

In the main text we do not include the inauthentic fingering added by EE.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions

b. 237

composition: (Op. 4), Sonata in C minor, Mvt I

Quaver & rest in A

Crotchet in GE (→FE,EE,IE)

..

The extension of the e3-c4 sixth almost certainly resulted from the distraction of the engraver of GE1, who overlooked the quaver flag and the rest.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE