mUltimate Chopin

Op. 25 No 4, Etude in A minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 25-26

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

Two wedges in A

14 wedges in #CF (→GE) & EE

No marks in FE
..

In A (→FE) there are no wedges in the L.H. in the 2nd half of bar 25 and in bar 26 (as well as in bar 38). This patent inaccuracy was completed in FC (→GE) and EE. In turn, FE overlooked two signs more, on the 3rd and 4th quaver in bar 25.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in FE , Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 48

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

Slurs in A, literal reading

Slurs in FC (→GE) & EE

Slurs in FE
..

When interpreted literally, the slurs of A do not include the a2 crotchet, which resulted in an erroneous, as it seems, interpretation in FE. In the main text we give the undoubtedly correct slurs of FC (→GE) and EE. After all, it is highly likely that the slur in bars 47-48  in FC was extended by Chopin.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A

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