mUltimate Chopin

Op. 10 No 6, Etude in E♭ minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : GE revisions

b. 45

composition: Op. 10 No 6, Etude in E♭ minor

Minim e1 in A (→FE→GE1,EE)

Dotted minim in GE2 (→GE3→GE4→GE5)
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The overlooked dot extending the e1 minim in A was added only in GE2 (→GE3→GE4→GE5). It is not a rhythmic mistake sensu stricto, yet the comparison with analogous bars 5 and 13 prove Chopin's error. 

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: GE revisions , Inaccuracies in A

b. 48

composition: Op. 10 No 6, Etude in E♭ minor

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In FE the dots extending the c1-f1 fourth were omitted, which is a patent error, corrected in GE and EE.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in FE , GE revisions

b. 50

composition: Op. 10 No 6, Etude in E♭ minor

Rhythm & c1 in A, interpretation

Supplemented interpretation of A

Rhythm & c1 in FE (→GE1→GE1a)

Additional fingering in EE

Rhythm & c1 in GE2

Rhythm & c1-c1 in GE3 (→GE4) & EE4

Rhythm & c1 in GE5
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The final version of the beginning of this bar is not entirely clear. A features a version with grace notes, yet written with a rhythmic error – the c1-f1 fourth is only a crotchet, without extending dots. It is most probably this error that caused that in FE the grace notes were interpreted as common semiquavers: . The traces of this version, rhythmically correct from the formal point of view, are visible in FE, yet Chopin corrected it afterwards, moving c1 to the beginning of the bar. According to us, at the time of performing this correction, the composer wanted to return to the intended version of A, which was however performed only in relation to the arrangement of c1 in the lower voice.

All accidentals added in GE and EE come from the revisers of these editions, while the  changing c1 to c1 in GE2 (→GE3→GE4) distorted the harmonic content of this bar.

In the main text we add cautionary flats before a1 and c1; the first of them is already included in EE and GE2 (→GE3→GE4→GE5).

The accents and the fingering are discussed separately. 

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

issues: Chopin's hesitations , GE revisions , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 50

composition: Op. 10 No 6, Etude in E♭ minor

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The sources differ in the presence or absence of cautionary accidentals in the 1st half of the bar.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: EE revisions , GE revisions , Cautionary accidentals

b. 50-51

composition: Op. 10 No 6, Etude in E♭ minor

No fingering in A

Fingering in FE

GE1 (→GE2→GE3)

GE4 (→GE5)

EE

Our suggestion
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The given in the main text fingering in the 2nd half of bar 50 was added by Chopin in a proofreading of FE. In this edition the 1st finger is repeated also over g at the beginning of bar 51, which seems to be an error (the digit was deleted in GE4 and GE5). In GE Chopin's indication of division between the hands with the use of digits under and above the notes was misunderstood. In EE Fontana modified and completed authentic indications.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

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