mUltimate Chopin

Op. 26 No 1, Polonaise in C♯ minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Inaccuracies in GE

b. 1-12

composition: Op. 26 No 1, Polonaise in C♯ minor

..

Bars 1-12, marked in A by Chopin with a conventional repetition sign, were rewritten in the editions. According to us, it is an arbitrary decision of the French editor, probably resulting from graphic issues – from the layout of the text on the pages. Consequently, analogous places display minor differences, which – due to the repetition in A – were certainly not intended by Chopin. The discrepancies mainly result from oversights and inaccuracy of the engravers and, to a certain extent, from Chopin's superficial review. Due to the fact that in the main text we preserve the notation of A, in the remaining sources, we adopt two manners of displaying the differing elements in the repeated bars 1-12:

  • we put the elements which appear only the first time in parentheses;
  • we put the elements which appear only the second time in square brackets.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions; Source & stylistic information

issues: Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccuracies in FE , EE inaccuracies

b. 6

composition: Op. 26 No 1, Polonaise in C♯ minor

 in A (→FE→GE1, first time)

 in FE (→GE1), first time & in GE2 (→GE3→GE4→GE5)

 in EE
..

The sources differ in the range of  hairpins. Taking into account various possibilities of interpretation of the not too carefully written signs in A (also in analogous bar 31) and a possibility of Chopin proofreading of FE (at the reappearance of this bar in the written repetition of bars 1-12), all three variants of the range of this sign can be considered to be potentially corresponding to Chopin's intention. In the main text we give the most possible interpretation of the hairpins of A.

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

issues: EE revisions , Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccuracies in FE , Scope of dynamic hairpins , GE revisions , Inaccuracies in A

b. 7

composition: Op. 26 No 1, Polonaise in C♯ minor

No staccato dot in FE (→EE) & GE2 (→GE3→GE4→GE5)

Staccato dot in A & GE1
..

The missing staccato dot in FE, placed in A over the 1st quaver of the triplet, can be a result of Chopin's proofreading. The appearance of the dot in GE1 may be explained with the engraver's distraction, whereas a relevant correction was introduced in GE2 (→GE3→GE4→GE5).

category imprint: Differences between sources

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

b. 12

composition: Op. 26 No 1, Polonaise in C♯ minor

..

The c1-e1 third in the L.H. in FE (→GE1,EE1) is written monophonically the first time. The mistake was corrected in GE2 (→GE3→GE4→GE5) & EE2 by adding a quaver stem to the top note; at the same time, a small unnecessary fragment of the stem was not removed, combining two note heads on their left side.

category imprint: Differences between sources

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

b. 20

composition: Op. 26 No 1, Polonaise in C♯ minor

Staccato dot in A

No dot in FE (→GE→EE)
..

FE (→GE,EE) overlooked the staccato dot for the D1-D octave in the L.H. The engraver's oversight was certainly caused by the unclear notation of A, in which Chopin introduced some of the dots in a very delicate manner and at the same time not directly under the note (moved to the left or to the right) and additionally merging with the pedalling signs. 

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccuracies in FE , EE inaccuracies , Inaccuracies in A