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Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

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b. 192-198

composition: Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

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In GC (→GE) and FE the lower notes of the L.H. octaves in bars 192-194 and 198 were marked in an abbreviated manner with the digits 8. In EE, they were written out in notes, and we adopt that notation as matching today's standards. Similarly in bars 199, 236-240 & 486-493. See also the note concerning bars  195-196.

category imprint: Editorial revisions; Source & stylistic information

issues: Abbreviated octaves' notation

b. 195-196

composition: Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

D1 not tied in EE

D1 not tied in GC (→GE)

D1 tied in FE

D1 tied, contemporary notation
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In EE, D flat1 in bar 195 is not held until bar 196, as there is no tie and the lower note of the L.H. octave in bar 196 is also absent. The notation of GC (→GE), when read literally, results in the same version. In our opinion, by writing 8 in bar 195 under D flat tied until the next bar Chopin almost certainly had in mind the pianistically natural holding of the entire octave. This undermines the reliability of the version of EE, which most probably results from a misinterpretation of the notation of GC. In FE, the holding of the entire octave is notated in the clear, doubtless manner. Similar ambiguities occur in analogous bars 239-240, while in bars 489-490 the notation of all the sources clearly indicates that the entire octave should be held. 

category imprint: Differences between sources

b. 197

composition: Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

B1 in EE, GC (→GE) & FE

B2-B1 proposed by the editors
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Missing from the sources is the lower note of the L.H. octave, B flat2. As the range of Chopin's piano only reached C1, the addition seems more than justified here. Cf. bar 491

category imprint: Editorial revisions

b. 199

composition: Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

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In GC (→GE) and FE the lower note of the octave in the L.H. is marked in an abbreviated manner by means of the digit 8.

category imprint: Editorial revisions; Source & stylistic information

issues: Abbreviated octaves' notation

b. 210

composition: Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

Octave in EE & GC (→GE1)

b in the chord in FE & GE2
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The version of FE, subsequently copied in GE2, seems less fortunate than the more subtle version of EE and GC (→GE1).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: GE revisions