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Op. 45, Prelude in C♯ minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : EE revisions

b. 47-48

composition: Op. 45, Prelude in C♯ minor

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The sources differ in the placement of cautionary naturals before the notes a in those bars. FE has only one natural and just in bar 48 (before the 3rd quaver). The sign is also present in EE, in which, however, another three were added in bar 47 – before a2 in the chord at the beginning of the bar and two in the L.H. In GE  were placed before the first appearance of the note in each hand; undoubtedly, the sign before the 4th quaver was added during the proofing.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , GE revisions , Cautionary accidentals

b. 48

composition: Op. 45, Prelude in C♯ minor

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The omitted  in FE1 lowering f2 to f2 was added in FE2 and EE. GE also has a correct text.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Accidentals in different octaves , Inaccuracies in FE , Omission of current key accidentals , FE revisions

b. 49

composition: Op. 45, Prelude in C♯ minor

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In FE1 there are no naturals lowering F to F and f to f (the 2nd and 6th quavers). The signs were added in FE2 and EE, GE has also a correct text.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Accidentals in different octaves , Inaccuracies in FE , FE revisions

b. 50

composition: Op. 45, Prelude in C♯ minor

Rhythmic notation in FE

GE

EE

Our suggestion
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The notation of the octave c2-c3 in FE and GE is certainly inaccurate, which was corrected by the reviser of EE. The extension of the sound of the quaver a2 is written only in GE. It was introduced by Chopin in [A2], certainly in order to make the notation more precise, therefore, we consider it in the main text.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccuracies in FE

b. 51-54

composition: Op. 45, Prelude in C♯ minor

No markings in FE (→EE1)

Pedalling in GE

EE2
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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