mUltimate Chopin

Op. 25 No 1, Etude in A♭ major

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Articulation, Accents, Hairpins
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Articulation, Accents, Hairpins

b. 1-2

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

Long accent in AI

  in A (→GE1→GE1a)

  in FE

  in EE

  in GE2 (→GE3)
..

The long accent under f2 at the beginning of bar 2 in #AW is the original concept of dynamic markings in these bars. In A one can see that Chopin rejected the accent (placed above this note) in favour of a pair of   hairpins. The hairpins were incorrectly reproduced in GE1 (→GE1a), yet only the fact of beginning diminuendo in GE2 (→GE3) from the beginning of bar 2 may be considered as a quite significant change. In FE and EE, diminuendo immediately follows crescendo. In the main text we reproduce the signs of A, the only ones written undoubtedly by Chopin's hand.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Long accents , Inaccuracies in GE , GE revisions , Deletions in A

b. 3

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

No signs in AI & CDP

  in A

  in GE

  in EE

  in FE

Our suggestion
..

Chopin added the dynamic indication in this bar only at the time of preparing the Etude for print. Initially, he provided the f2 note with an accent (as in bar 2), yet eventually he chose a pair of   hairpins. However, the signs are imprecise – the arms of the first one are of different length, while the second seems to be shortened in order to avoid a possible illegible mergence of the sign with the note in the L.H. or the semiquaver beam in the R.H. (GE reproduced it in such a way). In the main text we suggest an interpretation of the hairpins of A based on the above analysis and comparison with FE and EE.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Inaccuracies in GE , Deletions in A

b. 4

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

No signs in CDP & EE

Accent &  in AI

 in A

 in GE1

  in FE & GE1a (→GE2)

 in GE3
..

In the main text we give a pair of   hairpins, being a result of Chopin proofreading of GE1a (→GE2); it is also FE that has identical indications. Hence Chopin returned – in a modified form – to the original idea written in AI. The abbreviated sign of GE1 is an attempt to interpret a not entirely clear notation of A; another attempt was made in GE3, ignoring the authentic proofreading of GE1a.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: GE revisions , Authentic corrections of GE , Unclear hairpins in A

b. 5

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

No sign in AI, CDP & EE

 in A (→GE) & FE
..

Lack of the sign in EE may indicate distraction of the engraver, copyist (if it was a copy of A that was the base text to EE) or of Chopin himself, if it was another autograph that constituted the base text or if the dynamic signs were added by Chopin already after the copy had been prepared. Moreover, in EE there are no dynamic signs in bars 4-7.
Also in AI, the second four-bar section of the Etude is practically devoid of dynamic signs – the accent in bar 6 is the only indication of this type.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

b. 6

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

No mark in CDP & EE

Short accent in AI & GE

Long accent in A

 in FE
..

Neither in AI nor in A is the type of accent Chopin thought of here clear. The sign is visibly shorter in AI than in A, therefore, we interpret it as a short and long accent, respectively. This is how we give it in the main text. According to us, it is highly likely that a long accent was written also in the base text to FE, reproduced inaccurately as .

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Long accents