mUltimate Chopin

Op. 45, Prelude in C♯ minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Errors in FE

b. 43

composition: Op. 45, Prelude in C♯ minor

Semibreve in FE (→EE1)

Minim in GE & EE2
..

The value of semibreve ascribed to e2 is most certainly an error of FE (→EE1). The correct value of semibreve is included in GE and EE2. Similarly in bars 35 and 59.   

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in FE

b. 47-48

composition: Op. 45, Prelude in C♯ minor

No marking in FE (→EE1)

 in GE

EE2

Our suggestion
..

Lack of  mark in FE (→EE1) is a patent error, as in bar 48 there is a  mark. In EE2 the notation was completed on the basis of an analogous situation in bars 38-39, however, it does not have to follow the notation of Chopin's autograph. In the main text we give the version of GE, completed with the proposition of a pedal depressed together with the appearance of the bass note of the F major chord, which enables achieving a clear sound of the passage also on contemporary pianos.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: EE revisions , Errors in FE

b. 48

composition: Op. 45, Prelude in C♯ minor

Rhythmic notation in FE1

FE2 & EE1

GE

EE2
..

The notation of the upper voice in FE1 –  rhythm with the quaver being moved outside the last quaver of the lower voice – indicates the engraver's error, who placed the notes in accordance with the double dotted rhythm (as in GE), yet he added only one dot and stem to them. The error was revised in FE2 and EE1 by correcting the placement of notes and not their rhythmic values. In EE2 the double dotted rhythm was introduced, without changing the layout of the notes.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE

b. 51-54

composition: Op. 45, Prelude in C♯ minor

No markings in FE (→EE1)

Pedalling in GE

EE2
..

Leaving a lone  mark in bar 51 in FE (→EE1) seems to be a mistake. However, it cannot be exluded that it was Chopin himself who made the mistake, as the incomplete pedal marks were already in [A1]. The pedalling of EE2 was most probably taken from GE and the fact of moving the changes of pedal to the end of bars 53 and 54 was probably motivated by graphic issues and was not meant to indicate an earlier change of pedal.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in FE

b. 54

composition: Op. 45, Prelude in C♯ minor

..

FE1 is lacking a quaver stem next to the last note of the bar. This patent error was corrected in FE2 and EE. GE also has the correct rhythm.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Source & stylistic information

issues: EE revisions , Errors in FE , FE revisions