A
Main text
AI - Working autograph
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. 34

g1 in AI & A (→FE1GE,EE)

g1 in FE2

Both source versions of the top note of the 3rd third in the bar – g1 and g1 – may be considered as a manifestation of Chopin's final intention. The arguments for the version with g1:

  • compliance of AI, A and FE1 (→GE,EE), carefully corrected by Chopin,
  • Chopin entry in a pupils' copy [GES],
  • analogy of contrast of bars 30-31 and 34-35, in which the dynamic contrasts enhance the difference of the harmonic colour,
  • lack of total certainty as for the authenticity of the change performed in this place in FE2 (a possible error of the engraver).

The arguments for g1:

  • presence of this note in the earliest (AI before the added changes) and latest (FE2) written version. One could see here an example of Chopin's hesitation, ended in return to the original idea;
  • making the dynamic contrasts an independent micro formal shaping factor. The difference of the interval structure stopped being obligatory and g1 sounds strange within the scope of functional harmony after bars 32-33, based on the c-e-g-chord;
  • three pupils' copies – FED, FEJ, FES – with no changes in this place, in spite of numerous Chopin entries in the entire Etude.

According to us, it is the first group of arguments that is more convincing than the second.

Compare the passage in the sources »

See b. 31

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Authentic corrections of FE

notation: Pitch

Go to the music

Original in: Muzeum Fryderyka Chopina, Warszawa