mUltimate Chopin

Op. 25 No 1, Etude in A♭ major

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Scope of dynamic hairpins

b. 21

composition: Op. 25 No 1, Etude in A♭ major

No signs in AI & CDP

 in A

 in GE

  in FE

  in EE

  suggested by the editors
..

Although the  hairpins in A have arms of different length, it seems natural, however, to adopt that they begin only in the middle of the bar. Hence we consider the longer sign in GE to be inaccurate. In the main text we also include the  hairpins, probably added by Chopin in base texts to FE and EE.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Scope of dynamic hairpins , Unclear hairpins in A

b. 22-23

composition: Op. 25 No 1, Etude in A♭ major

No markings in AI & CDP

  in A (→GE), FE & EE
..

The   differ in A (→GE), FE and EE in the range of particular signs, however, the differences are most probably of an accidental character and do not influence the meaning of these indications.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Scope of dynamic hairpins

b. 24-25

composition: Op. 25 No 1, Etude in A♭ major

cresc. – – in AI

 in A

 in CDP

 in FE & GE

 & cresc. in EE
..

None of the sources which were, directly or indirectly, based on A reproduce precisely the range of the  hairpins. In the main text, we faithfully adhere to the notation of A, in spite of the fact that beginning the crescendo only at the beginning of bar 25, where a new slur starts, may seem to be more natural. See also the note concerning cresc.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Scope of dynamic hairpins

b. 37

composition: Op. 25 No 1, Etude in A♭ major

No sign in AI & CDP

 in A

 in FE

 w EE

 in GE

 suggested by the editors
..

Particular sources differ quite significantly, as far as the range of  hairpins is concerned. Taking into consideration the fact that the notation of A is not very precise in this respect and the fact that the signs in the base texts for FE and EE could have been written also by Chopin himself, in the main text we suggest hairpins of an average length and placement. Similarly in analogous bar 39.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Scope of dynamic hairpins , Inaccuracies in A

b. 39

composition: Op. 25 No 1, Etude in A♭ major

No markings in AI

 in CDP

 in A

 in FE

 in EE

 in GE1

 in GE2 (→GE3)
 
..

It is hard to state which of the differently placed  marks of different length is closest to Chopin's intention (see the note to analogous bar 37). In this situation, in the main text we suggest – similarly as in that bar – a compromise solution. 

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GE , Scope of dynamic hairpins , Inaccuracies in A