mUltimate Chopin

Op. 25 No 9, Etude in G♭ major

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Authentic corrections in GC

b. 1

composition: Op. 25 No 9, Etude in G♭ major

 

in FE

in EE
..

All three source indications of the tempo-character are almost certainly authentic (vivace and assai – certainly, non tanto – highly likely). It means that Chopin changed his mind on this issue at least twice, yet the order of the changes is unknown – we only know that assai is later than vivace, as in GC there is a relevant correction. Chopin's hesitation concerned rather terminology than the actual tempo of the Etude, as the later added metronome tempo is the same for all three indications. The choice of one of them is then of a minor practical meaning. In the main text we give assai, with which Chopin replaced vivace, which seems to correspond better to the fast (for the rhythm and texture used in the Etude) tempo indicated by the metronome.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Chopin's hesitations , Authentic corrections in GC

b. 1-8

composition: Op. 25 No 9, Etude in G♭ major

Accents in GC (→GE) & EE

No marks in FE
..

The accents in GC (→GE) were added by Chopin, at the same time replacing a few   signs in bars 1-4. The missing accents in FE must be considered as Chopin's inaccuracy. See also bar 8.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Authentic corrections in GC

b. 4

composition: Op. 25 No 9, Etude in G♭ major

c1-d1-f1 in GC (→GE) & EE

a-c1-f1 in FE
..

The version of FE is earlier – in GC one can see a correction, in which a was deleted, while d1 probably added. A similar change might have been introduced to the base text to EE. According to us, both versions are stylistically more or less equal, and ten years later Chopin did not see a reason to change the original version in pupil's copies.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Accompaniment changes , Authentic corrections in GC

b. 8

composition: Op. 25 No 9, Etude in G♭ major

Slur in GC (→GE)

Slur & dots in FE & EE
..

The sources do not give reasons for concluding how the difference in the articulation in the R.H. in the 1st half of the bar occurred. The slur of GC seems to be added by another hand than the majority of the remaining slurs of the Etude, which suggests Chopin's intervention. However, it is only an addition, as the manuscript had not included any articulation indications in this place. The addition of the slur could have been related to the addition of accents in the entire first period, in particular to the three accents breaking the scheme in the discussed bar. Due to this fact, we adopt the slur of GC (→GE) to the main text.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Authentic corrections in GC

b. 12

composition: Op. 25 No 9, Etude in G♭ major

g in chord in GC (→GE) & EE3

No g in chord in FE & EE1 (→EE2)
..

The g note was added (in pencil) in GC (→GE). Therefore, it is highly likely an addition introduced by Chopin in the last phase of corrections in Stichvorlage manuscripts. The version was adopted in EE3.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: EE revisions , Accompaniment changes , Authentic corrections in GC