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Op. 10 No 3, Etude in E major

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : GE revisions

b. 32

composition: Op. 10 No 3, Etude in E major

..

The notation of accidentals is inaccurate in some of the sources, which, however, does not create any problems in interpreting Chopin's intention. It concerns mostly AI, yet in A (→FE→EE2→EE3) there is also no  before g2 in the L.H. (in bar 33).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Accidentals in different octaves , GE revisions , Accidental below/above the note

b. 34

composition: Op. 10 No 3, Etude in E major

d2 in AI & A (→FE→EE2→EE3)

d2 in GE & EE4
..

The sound of d2 at the beginning of the bar does not raise any doubts both in the autographs and in FE and EE2 (→EE3). Lack of the  lowering d1 to d1 on the 2nd semiquaver in bar 34 in A (→FE1→GE,EE) is an obvious oversight of Chopin (in the manuscripts and first editions of his pieces, we find hundreds of similar inaccuracies). However, the mistake was corrected only in FE2, as the problem of incompliance of d2 at the beginning of the bar and d1 on the 2nd semiquaver was solved by the engraver of GE by deleting the  before d2. The erroneous version with d2 and d1 was introduced – most probably under the influence of GE – also in EE4. One has to underline once again that both autographs – in spite of inaccurate notation – are completely unanimous, as far as the use of the B minor, and not B major, chord is concerned; this version is then confirmed by both a proofreading of FE2 and pupils' copies, bearing numerous signs of working on the Etude with Chopin.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Accidentals in different octaves , GE revisions , Omission of current key accidentals , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 36

composition: Op. 10 No 3, Etude in E major

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The cautionary  before A and a  before d2 are in AI, yet they were not included in A. Naturals before both notes of the octave were added in a proofreading of FE (→EE), most probably in the last phase, as they are absent in GE1. In subsequent GE, the signs were added together with cautionary sharps before d1-d2 in the R.H. The last addition is also present in EE4. 

The natural before a1 in the R.H. was added by us. 

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: EE revisions , GE revisions , Cautionary accidentals , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 38-40

composition: Op. 10 No 3, Etude in E major

Dots & wedges in A

Three dots in FE

Six dots in GE

Two dots in EE3 (→EE4)

Our suggestion
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The sources show numerous differences, as far as the indications of articulation of the first semiquavers in these bars are concerned, while the signs in particular sources are so inconsistent that it is hard to determine Chopin's intention in this issue. As it does not seem that Chopin intervened in the text of the editions in this respect, we consider A as the only authoritative source. In the main text we give the notation of A in the completed version, as Chopin additions of articulation in the L.H. in bar 37 and the dot at the beginning of bar 39 indicate the will to explicitly indicate the staccato articulation of the semiquavers in the L.H. in this section. Therefore, it seems to be rational to add dots at the beginning of bars 38 and 40.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in FE , Errors in EE , GE revisions , Wedges

b. 38-40

composition: Op. 10 No 3, Etude in E major

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The sources lack in some necessary cautionary accidentals – the fully correct text is only in GE4 (→GE5). If we take into consideration the logic of the figuration's structure, all these situations may be considered as obvious oversights, in spite of the fact that in a few cases the harmonic relations would allow to consider the created chords as possible. 

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Accidentals in different octaves , Omissions to cancel alteration , GE revisions , Errors of A , Authentic corrections of FE