mUltimate Chopin

Op. 25 No 4, Etude in A minor

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b. 53

composition: Op. 25 No 4, Etude in A minor

Minim in A, EE & GE2 (→GE3)

Minim without stem in FC (→GE1)

Quaver in FE
..

The missing extension of the d note is probably a mistake of the engraver of FE. In FC (→GE1) the additional stem to the minim d was omitted.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE

b. 53

composition: Op. 25 No 4, Etude in A minor

Pedalling in A (→FC,FE), EE & GE2 (→GE3)

No markings in GE1
..

GE1 omitted pedal markings. The error was corrected in GE2 (→GE3).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE , GE revisions

b. 54

composition: Op. 25 No 4, Etude in A minor

No markings in A (→FC→GE) & EE

Pedalling in FE
..

The pedalling marks at the beginning of the bar were added by Chopin in proofreading of FE. Similarly in bars 59 and 61.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Authentic corrections of FE

b. 54-55

composition: Op. 25 No 4, Etude in A minor

 in A (→FE)

 &  in FC (→GE)

 in EE
..

In the main text we give two dynamic hairpins present in FC (→GE). It is possible that Chopin completed the indications with respect to the version of A, although  added in bar 54 seems to be written with the copyist's hand.

category imprint: Differences between sources

b. 55-57

composition: Op. 25 No 4, Etude in A minor

Three slurs in A

Two slurs in FC, literal reading

Two slurs in FC, contextual interpretation

Two slurs in FE

Two slurs in GE1

Slur in EE

Two slurs in GE2 (→GE3)
..

The main doubt concerns here the phrase adherence of the a1 minim in bar 56 – in A the slur begins from it (after bar 54), while in FC it is clearly added to the previous phrase. According to us, Fontana omitted the slur in bar 56, perhaps believing that there is no need to double the tie and Chopin, at the time of checking FC, extended the previous slur.
Moreover, the moment of starting the slur in bar 57 is also unclear – the slur of A, concerning the top voice too, starts in the place where there is no note. It was accurately reproduced in FC, in turn, the editors extended the slur, either leading it from the beginning of the bar (GE) or connecting with the previous one (FE and EE). It cannot be excluded that it was Chopin's intention, while the notation of GE1 reproduced it most accurately. However, taking into account the  indication, we suggest another interpretation of the slurring of FC in the main text, dividing the phrase in accordance with the dynamic contrast.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Interpretations within context; Differences between sources; Editorial revisions; Corrections & alterations

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , GE revisions