mUltimate Chopin

(Op. 4), Sonata in C minor, Mvt IV

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b. 4-6

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

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It is unclear how to understand the combination of the ties between the d1 notes in bars 4-5 and the c1 notes in bars 5-6 and the arpeggio marks preceding the chords at the beginning of bar 5 and 6, since the markings seem contradictory. There are two possibilities:

  • one can consider the ties to be slurs and play the entire chords as arpeggios, repeating the aforementioned notes;
  • one can reduce the range of the arpeggios to the two bottom notes of the discussed chords, holding the topmost note.

category imprint: Source & stylistic information

issues: Tie or slur

b. 9-12

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

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The last C in bar 9 is an exceptionally clear example of the Chopinesque manner of writing notes on ledger lines, which consisted in providing the notehead with an additional vertical line pointing downwards, which could be considered a crotchet stem in some situations – see the Mazurka in B minor, Op. 24 No. 4, bar 23. E in bar 12 is also provided with such a line, shorter yet still distinct.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Source & stylistic information

issues: Uncertain notes on ledger lines

b. 10

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

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In A the last quaver was probably added later, while the irregular group marking was changed from 9 to 10.

category imprint: Corrections & alterations

issues: Corrections in A , Main-line changes

b. 57

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

Notation in sources

Our alternative suggestion
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Our alternative notation suggestion is based on the notation Chopin used in similar bar 258 and 262, as it is simpler and easier to read. The original notation of the discussed bar (used in bar 61 as well) resulted in various defects in some first editions – see the note above and in bar 61.

category imprint: Editorial revisions

b. 60-61

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

e2-g2 tied in A

e2-g2 repeated in GE (→FE,EE,IE)
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The omission of the ties to the top 2 notes of the chord is almost certainly an error by the engraver of GE (→FE,EE,IE).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE