mUltimate Chopin

Op. 10 No 12, Etude in C minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Authentic corrections of FE

b. 41

composition: Op. 10 No 12, Etude in C minor

G1 in A

Octave in FE (→GE,EE) 
..

The octave in FE (→GE,EE) was most probably introduced by Chopin at the time of proofreading FE. However, it is puzzling that the traces of the performed changes visible in FE suggest corrections from a totally different version (the A1-c tenth?).

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Authentic corrections of FE

b. 41-44

composition: Op. 10 No 12, Etude in C minor

Possible long accents in A

Possible short accents in A

Short accents in FE (→GE)

EE3

EE4

Short accents suggested by the editors

Long accents suggested by the editors
..

In the majority of the sources, the notation of accents is inaccurate. In A in bars 43-44 Chopin limited himself to general suggestions concerning accents, in FE (→GE,EE) the marks were partially completed (only in bar 43). Moreover, the attention is drawn by the difference in bars 41-42 – in FE (→GE) the accent on the 2nd beat in bar 41 was omitted (added in EE3), yet a mark was added over the last group in bar 42. All cases of the mark's omissions most probably result from distraction. In the main text we include all accents in bars 41-43 and we suggest to complete the marks in bar 44. EE4 displays such completed text.

The type of accents, which Chopin had in mind at the time of writing A in these bars, constitutes another problem. We consider short accents to be more natural in this context and this is how it was understood in FE (→GE,EE). However, due to the existing doubts, we also suggest long accents as a possible interpretation of A and an alternative version of the main text.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: Long accents , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 43-45

composition: Op. 10 No 12, Etude in C minor

 in A

Two  in FE (→GE1→GE2, →EE)

One  in GE3 (→GE4)
..  

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in FE , Errors in GE , GE revisions , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 50

composition: Op. 10 No 12, Etude in C minor

..

Chopin added the hairpin  while proofreading FE (→GE,EE).

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Authentic corrections of FE

b. 51-63

composition: Op. 10 No 12, Etude in C minor

 &  in A

FE (→GE,EE) 

Our suggestion
..

In A the dynamic marks –  and particularly  – in bars 51-53, 60 and 62-63 are written only on the 4th beat of the bar, sometimes on  marks. According to us, it is an example of use of an earlier notation convention by Chopin – see bars 10-12. In FE (→GE,EE) only one of the indications was reproduced in accordance with A (bar 52), some of them were overlooked (in separately discussed bars 61-62) and the remaining ones were arranged in such way so they concern entire octave motifs pursuant to the currently binding notation rules. Cf. the remarks concerning  marks in bars 51-63.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Authentic corrections of FE , Centrally placed marks