mUltimate Chopin

Op. 10 No 5, Etude in G♭ major

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Inaccuracies in GE

b. 4-12

composition: Op. 10 No 5, Etude in G♭ major

Long accents in A

Long accent in FE (→EE2)

Short accent & dots in GE

Two accents in EE3 (→EE4)
..

We consider the marks written in A under the chords in bars 4 and 12 as long accents. Only first of them was reproduced in FE (→EE2). In GE the sign in bar 4 became a common short accent and in bar 12 both chords were provided with staccato dots. In EE3 (→EE4) a short accent was added in bar 12. According to us, only the version of A is authentic.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

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

b. 24-27

composition: Op. 10 No 5, Etude in G♭ major

No pedalling in A

Pedalling in FE

GE1

GE2

GE3 (→GE4→GE5)

EE

Our suggestion
..

The pedalling added by Chopin in a proofreading of FE is inaccurately written, probably due to the lack of space in tightly packed text on the page. It resulted in different attempts of interpretation by the engravers of GE and EE. In the main text we interpret the pedalling of FE as the natural harmonic pedalling, in accordance with the one which was undeniably marked in bars 29-30.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GE , GE revisions , EE inaccuracies , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 29-30

composition: Op. 10 No 5, Etude in G♭ major

Wedge in A

Three dots in FE

Two dots in GE1 & EE2 (→EE3)

One dot in GE2 (→GE3)

No marks in GE4 (→GE5)

Four dots in EE4
..

The sources display a great variety of staccato marks over the first two quavers in these bars. In the main text we give the elements of indisputable authenticity – the wedge of A in bar 29 and the dots added by Chopin in a proofreading of FE in bar 30. According to us, the indications of FE and EE4 may also be included in the versions which are potentially compatible with Chopin's intention.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccuracies in FE , Authentic corrections of FE , Wedges

b. 32-36

composition: Op. 10 No 5, Etude in G♭ major

Pedalling in A (→FE→GE1,EE)

GE2

GE3 (→GE4→GE5)
..

The four-bar pedal in bars 33-36 was already written in A (→FE→EE). The  mark, which in FE (→GE1) obviously concerns the beginning of bar 33, placed before the A1-A minim in spite of lack of space, was entirely moved to bar 32 in GE2 and further ones, which suggests an erroneous performance. In addition, in GE3 (→GE4→GE5) the  mark in bar 36 was omitted.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GE

b. 37-40

composition: Op. 10 No 5, Etude in G♭ major

No signs in A

  in FE, similarly in GE1 (→GE1a) & EE

GE3 (→GE4), similarly GE2 & GE5

Our alternative unified suggestion
..

Chopin added the   marks while proofreading FE, thus we give them in this form in the main text. We also suggest an alternative version, unified with the previous four-bar section. In GE the first mark was inaccurately reproduced and slightly differently in four out of five editions. In EE both marks were extended with a semiquaver on each of the sides. Out of these versions, we give only the clearly longer mark of GE3 (→GE4) as a variant. 

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GE , EE inaccuracies , Authentic corrections of FE