mUltimate Chopin

Op. 25 No 11, Etude in A minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : GE revisions

b. 43

composition: Op. 25 No 11, Etude in A minor

g2-b2 in GC (→GE) & EE

b1-g2-b2 in FE
..

The three-note chord in FE is the original version, which is proved by the visible deletion of the b1 note in GC. At the time of introducing this correction, Chopin did not check the notation of the accidentals – the  overlooked on the 2nd beat of the bar was added only in GE.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Errors resulting from corrections , GE revisions , Authentic corrections in GC

b. 45-46

composition: Op. 25 No 11, Etude in A minor

Slur in GC, FE, EE & GE2 (→GE3)

Longer slur in GE1
..

The slur of the L.H. begins in GC more or less in the middle of the 1st beat of the bar, so GE1 embraced also the 1st octave with it. This undoubtedly erroneous interpretation was corrected in GE2 (→GE3). Similarly in bar 47.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: GE revisions , Inaccuracies in GC

b. 46

composition: Op. 25 No 11, Etude in A minor

Tied minim in GC, FE, EE & GE3

Dotted minim in GE1

Minim without tie in GE2 
..

It is hard to state how the erroneous version of GE1 occurred, as the e minim, held with a tie, lasts the same as the dotted minim, one can assume an attempt (failed) to rationalise Chopin's notation. In any case, the erroneous dot extending e was removed in GE2, yet the tie was not added, which happened only in GE3. 

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE , GE revisions

b. 46

composition: Op. 25 No 11, Etude in A minor

a2 in GC (→GE1) & FE (routine interpretation), EE & GE2 (→GE3)

a2 in GC (→GE1) & FE (contextual interpretation)
..

Before the 5th, 15th, 19th and 23rd semiquaver in GC (→GE1) and FE there is no accidental, so all of them should be interpreted as a2. In the 2nd half of the bar it is certainly erroneous, which induced the reviser of GE2 (→GE3) to consider the whole bar as an example of overlooking the sign of the current key and adding a  already next to the first of the aforementioned notes. A flat in this place is present also in EE, which could generally correspond to Chopin's notation in the base text to this edition. According to us, it is, however, more likely that in EE we are also dealing with an intervention of the reviser:

  • in a similar melodic turn in bar 48 the 5th semiquaver is an e2, moreover, in the sources there is no  returning e2 in the 2nd half of the bar;
  • Chopin undoubtedly heard a2 only in the 2nd half of the bar, where it is obvious due to A in the bass. Therefore, the first half of the bar could have been written faultlessly, although in a confusing manner, if we take into consideration the A major key, reaffirmed in the previous bar.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , GE revisions , Omission of current key accidentals

b. 47

composition: Op. 25 No 11, Etude in A minor

Octave in GC, FE & EE

Only B1 in GE1

Octave with naturals in GE2 (→GE3)
..

The missing B note in GE1 is almost certainly a mistake, corrected in GE2 (→GE3) together with adding – necessary in our opinion – cautionary naturals next to this crotchet.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE , GE revisions