mUltimate Chopin

Op. 25 No 4, Etude in A minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Authentic corrections of FC

b. 27

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

Short slur in A (→FE) & EE1 (→EE2)

Longer slur in FC (→GE)

Both slurs in EE3
..

The visible in A (→FE) and EE little slur in the 2nd half of the bar was overlooked in FC (→GE). Instead of that, Chopin added in this copy a longer slur, embracing the entire bar. The slur was introduced also in EE3, thanks to which the edition, as the only source, presents the closest to Chopin's intention version of the rhythm and slurring in this bar. In the main text, we omit the shorter slur, as, according to us, Chopin replaced it with the added longer one. Moreover, the notation of A is ambiguous – it is not clear which components of the chords were supposed to be embraced with it – we assume that they were b1 and a1. 

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Authentic corrections of FC

b. 30-32

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

Slurs in A (→FC) & GE2 (→GE3)

Slur in FE & GE1

Slurs in EE
..

In spite of the clearly divided slurs of A (→FC), both FE and GE1 embrace these three bars with one slur. The slur of EE is the original version, not corrected by Chopin in the base text to this edition (the extension of the slur is visible in A and most probably in FC).

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccuracies in FE , Corrections in A , GE revisions , Authentic corrections of FC , Tenuto slurs

b. 39-40

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

No signs in A (→FE) & EE1 (→EE2)

 in A (→GE) & EE3
..

Same as in bars 9-10, Chopin added here two  signs. This time, however, he did it only in FC (→GE). Generally, in bars 39-52 Chopin added the highest number of dynamic signs in FC (in bars 39-42, 44-50 and 52-53). EE has them only in bars 41-42 and 49, while A only in bars 44-45.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Authentic corrections of FC

b. 41-42

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

No signs in A (→FE)

  in FC (→GE)

  in EE
..

Same as in bars 2-4, the pair of   was added most probably by Chopin in FC (→GE) and base text to EE. In this case, however, the range of signs, particularly of , clearly differ in FC and EE.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Scope of dynamic hairpins , Authentic corrections of FC

b. 46

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

No markings in A (→FE)

Pedalling in FC (→GE) & EE
..

In A (→FE), omission of the pedalling written by Chopin in FC (→GE) and base text to EE was certainly unintentional.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Authentic corrections of FC