mUltimate Chopin

Op. 25 No 4, Etude in A minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Errors in FE

b. 13

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

..

FE has an erroneous G instead of A as the 3rd quaver. This patent error could have been provoked by an inaccurate placement of this note in A. The mistake was corrected – perhaps by Chopin – in FED.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Annotations in teaching copies , Errors in FE , Annotations in FED , Inaccurate note pitch in A , Inaccuracies in A

b. 33-35

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

Wedges in A (→FC→GE) & EE

No marks in FE
..

In FE there are no staccato signs in these bars. It is certainly an oversight of the engraver. 

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE

b. 35-38

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

  in A

  in FC

No signs in FE

  in GE

  in EE
..

The sources quite clearly differ in the range of   hairpins, which suggests that they were not copied, but introduced by Chopin himself into three Stichvorlage manuscripts. To the main text we adopt the version of FC, as it is more compatible with the indications of EE – both define the dynamic wave filling four bars, which implies that Chopin wrote such a concept twice. The three-bar version of A must be, however, considered as an equal, alternative concept. The reason for omitting the hairpins in FE is unknown; the engraver's oversight seems to be the most likely answer.

We preserve the position of the signs over the part of the R.H., in accordance with the manuscripts. However, one cannot exclude that the reason for such placement could have simply been lack of space between the staves and moving them to the typical place, as it was performed in GE, is justified.   

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE , Scope of dynamic hairpins , GE revisions

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