Main text
Main text
A - Autograph
FE - French edition
FE1 - First French edition
FE2 - Corrected impression of FE1
FED - Dubois copy
FEJ - Jędrzejewicz copy
FES - Stirling copy
GE - German edition
GE1 - First German edition
GE1a - Corrected impression of GE1
GE2 - Second German edition
GE3 - Third German edition
GE4 - Fourth German edition
GE5 - Fifth German edition
EE - English edition
EE2 - First English edition
EE3 - Corrected impression of EE2
EE4 - Revised impression of EE3
compare
  b. 59

Triad in A

Complemented version of A

Four-note chord in FE (→GE,EE)

Our alternative suggestion

Deciphering Chopin's intention regarding the 4th quaver in this bar encounters serious difficulties. In the main text we give the undoubtedly authentic version of A (the d1-g1-bchord). The b-d1-g1-b1four-note chord in FE (→GE,EE) may be a result of both Chopin's proofreading and the engraver's error (he could have erroneously inserted the chord from both adjacent, graphically similar, bars). However, the most plausible explanation of the discussed divergence is, according to us, the following: while proofreading this place in FE, Chopin wanted to replace b1 with b in the printed version of A, whereby the engraver performed only the easier part of the task (the then printing technique made adding a note much easier than deleting it). Similar "half-way" corrections are to be found in Chopin's works on several occasions, e.g., in the Etude in E major, No. 11, bar 4, the Scherzo in B minor, Op. 20, bars 135 and 292, the Polonaise in A major, Op. 40 No. 1, bar 93, the Ballade in G minor, Op. 23, bar 171. It leads to an alternative suggestion with the b-d1-gchord, as in analogous bar 57.

Both versions suggested by the editors include staccato dots added during the proofreading of FE (→GE,EE).

Compare the passage in the sources »

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE, Authentic corrections of FE

notation: Pitch

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