FE1 - First French edition


Publisher: S. Richault
Date: 26 V 1851
Plate number: 10 868. R.
Title: Grande Sonate
Dedication: None

First French edition, based on a copy of GE1 without the final alterations – see 4th mvt., bar 225. In FE1 a number of errors and inaccuracies from the base text were corrected, but new mistakes were made. Some changes and complements were also introduced.

The corrected GE defects include:

  • a correct interpretation of the ambiguous slur in bars 4-5,
  • adding a  in bar 87, 122, 124, overlooked by Chopin,
  • correcting the erroneous accidentals in bar 124.

However, some mistakes from the base text were left uncorrected, e.g.:

  • the confusing rhythmic notation in bar 96,
  • overlooked  to the top note of the penultimate R.H. quaver in bar 164,
  • overlooked  restoring b1 in bar 245.

FE1 own mistakes include:

  • the omitted slur in bar 17,
  • the octave sign in bar 65 having been ended too soon,
  • wrong note in bar 74 – D1 instead of E1,
  • overlooked  in bars 164-165.

The revisions introduced by FE1 concern mainly slurs and accidentals, among others:

  • the slur in bar 41 was extended,
  • a R.H. slur was added to bar 72-73,
  • a cautionary  was added to c2 in bar 82,
  • a L.H. accent was added in bar 236.
  • g3 was changed to g3 in bar 139.

In the case of the minor changes to slurs and, in particular, to the range of hairpins, one can assume both revisions and the engraver's inaccuracy.

Original in: Bibliothèque Nationale de France, Paris
Shelf-mark: Vm12 5565