mUltimate Chopin

Op. 25 No 5, Etude in E minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Authentic corrections of FC

b. 9

composition: Op. 25 No 5, Etude in E minor

f in FC (→GE) & EE1

E in FE & EE2 (→EE3)
..

Both versions of the 1st note of this bar are undoubtedly authentic, yet determining which one could have been considered final by Chopin faces major difficulties. The version with f seems to be later, as in FC one can see a correction in which the composer most probably deleted E and added f, whereas a similar correction was most probably also in the base text to EE. However, while proofreading FE later, Chopin did not introduce this change, in spite of the fact that he corrected the last chord in bar 8, positioned just next to it (1 cm). Therefore, in the main text we follow the version of the base source, i.e. FE.  

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: EE revisions , Chopin's hesitations , Accompaniment changes , Authentic corrections of FC

b. 42

composition: Op. 25 No 5, Etude in E minor

in FC (→GE1)

in FE & EE

twice in GE2 (→GE3)
..

Both indications present in the sources are authentic. In the main text we give , as in FC one can see deletion of the letter 'z' in the previously written . Therefore, it is possible that Chopin considered  to be more accurate. The change in GE2 (→GE3) cannot come from Chopin. 

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: GE revisions , Authentic corrections of FC

b. 45

composition: Op. 25 No 5, Etude in E minor

in FC (→GE) & EE3

No indication in FE & EE1 (→EE2)
..

The indication of the metronome tempo was added by Chopin in FC in pencil, hence in the last phase of preparing the Stichvorlage manuscripts for print. Differently than at the beginning of the Etude, here the composer added the indication only in this copy. In EE3 it was certainly added on the basis of comparison with GE.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Authentic corrections of FC

b. 45

composition: Op. 25 No 5, Etude in E minor

in FC (→GE) & EE

in FE
..

In the main text we give sostenuto, written in FC by Chopin after deleting two other indications, including probably ben tenuto, which was preserved in FE. Moreover, the indication concerning the R.H. was corrected by Chopin twice – at the beginning he wrote another indication and obliterated it (perhaps delicato) and then he changed leggierissimo (used then in bar 81) to leggiero.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Authentic corrections of FC

b. 69-72

composition: Op. 25 No 5, Etude in E minor

cresc. - - in FC

No indication in FE

cresc. - - in EE

cresc. - - in GE
..

Chopin added the cresc. indication in FC and in the base text to EE. In the main text, we give the range of the indication on the basis of FC. Leading the dashes to  in bar 73, which was done in GE, is inconsistent with the  sign (such juxtapositions are sometimes to be found in Chopin's works, yet only when there are at least two independent lines or sound planes).

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Inaccuracies in GE , Authentic corrections of FC