b. 13-16

 

 

It is only the part of the R.H. that was written in As. There are two versions:

  • in the main course of the text a version most probably compatible with the final one appears. The differences between them concern the distinct enharmonic notation (the 4th quaver in bar 15 is written as a d2) and inaccuracies, resulting from the draft nature of the notation – erroneously marked quaver beams in bars 13-14, overlooked accidentals before f2 and f2 in bar 14, the last two quavers in bar 15 and the first five in bar 16, marked without indicating the pitch, as well as most probably the erroneously written last quaver in bar 16 (g1 instead of a2);
  • over the version described above, there is another one, with a clearly different shape of the melody, with no motivic references to bars 10 and 12. We assume this version, absent in the remaining sources, yet offering an insight into Chopin's creative process, to be the text of As.

The absence of the part of the L.H. certainly does not mean that Chopin foresaw performing these bars without harmonic accompaniment. It is indicated by the notation of the melodic line of the R.H. with the stems pointed upwards, probably with a view to a later addition (at least in bar 13) of a bottom voice or notation of higher chords of the L.H. on the upper stave.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

notation: Pitch

Back to note