Main text
Main text
½A - Semi-autograph
A - Autograph of the piano part
Morch - Manuscript of the orchestra part
GE - German edition
GE1 - First German edition
GE1a - Retouched impression of GE1
GE2 - Second German edition
FE - French edition
FE1 - First French edition
FE2 - Corrected impression of FE1
FED - Dubois copy
FEJ - Jędrzejewicz copy
FES - Stirling copy
EE - English edition
EE1 - First English edition
EE2 - Revised impression of EE1
EE3 - Corrected impression of EE2
compare
  b. 5-6

Tied crotchet f1 in A & GE2

Tied minim f1 in GE1

No crotchet f1 in chord in EE

In order to try to unravel the mystery of the emergence of the version of GE1 (→FE), we have to take into consideration both the tie of fand the slur present in the sources. A comparison of this version with the completely transparent and not utterly complicated notation of A may imply Chopin's proofreading. However, the version of GE1, in its preserved form, could not have been the aim of a possible proofreading, since both introduced changes resulted in vague and questionable notations – the tie of f1 actually indicates the same performance as the one written in A, though the latter is easier to understand (f1 is not played in bar 6), whereas the slur is printed inaccurately, so that it is uncertain which notes it combines (c1-d1c1-b or even a-b). According to us, if Chopin really proofread GE1, the aim of the proofreading could have been a version compliant with the text of A (except for a doubled slur). It would be an example of a "half-proofreading," in which new elements were added (a dot extending the minim in bar 5 and a longer tie), yet f1 was not removed from the chord on the 3rd crotchet.

However, it is possible that the version of GE1 did not result from a proofreading but from an erroneous placement of both curved lines – the slur was moved to the top, to the note heads, whereas the tie was lowered, so that it did not collide with the latter. The addition of the dot extending the minim at the beginning of bar 5 may also be a mistake, e.g. by "generalising" dots next to the minims. As a consequence, the slur became a tie and the other way round.

Subsequent editions tried to confer a meaning to the vague version of GE1. FE corrected the bottom slur, so that its inclination was compliant with the direction of movement of the voices it applies to. EE introduced far-reaching changes – the fcrotchet was removed from the last chord in bar 5, probably after the corresponding bar of the recapitulation (bar 329); moreover, another slur was added to the existing one.

In the main text we present the unquestionable, correct text of A.

Compare the passage in the sources »

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions, Placement of markings, Errors in GE, GE revisions, Authentic corrections of GE, Partial corrections

notation: Rhythm

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