In A one can see traces of a correction, which concerned the accidental to the 6th quaver. Initially, the 2nd figure in the bar looked like the 1st figure in bar 254 (aside from the different octave): , which was supposed to indicate b-b-d1-g1. However, as in the 1st figure of the discussed bar there is a b note, the notation is actually supposed to be read as b-b-d1-g1. Having noticed the illogical notation with a repeated to b, the correcting person changed this accidental to (and probably added a to d1). The resulting version, pianistically and harmonically questionable, was then changed in GE to the initial version, but with an added , restoring b on the 5th quaver. The question is why the next note was changed instead of adding a to the 5th quaver; this disturbed the regular nature of the figuration and complicated the harmonic picture – the figuration is momentarily based on a G minor chord. According to us, there are two possibilities:
- Chopin performed the correction while hastily reviewing the manuscript, e.g. in order to find the inaccuracies in the notation of accidentals. The very manner of changing the accidental points to haste – instead of erasing the erroneous element, which was generally applied in this manuscript, a fragment of the changed accidental was deleted, which was, of course, less time-consuming. Hasty reviewing is always of a random nature; moreover, mistakes are often committed when certain places are viewed in isolation, which can be considered a justification for introducing a version that can hardly be considered intended.
- The correction was performed by a foreign hand; by someone who felt authorised to perform such an intervention, e.g. the owner of A. Taking into account the fact that the traces in GE prove that the changed version was initially printed there, one could think of the publisher or someone acting on his behalf, who was to perform the initial evaluation of the piece in terms of its artistic and commercial value. Another trace of actions of such a person could be the mark in bar 180.
category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources
issues: Corrections in A, Errors resulting from corrections, GE revisions, Foreign hand additions in manuscripts, Deletions in A
notation: Pitch
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