Main text
Main text
FE - French edition
FE1 - First French edition
FED - Dubois copy
GE - German edition
GE1 - First German edition
GE1a - Retouched impression of GE1
GE2 - Second German edition
GE3 - Corrected impression of GE2
EE - English edition
EE1 - First English edition
EE2 - Corrected impression of EE1
compare
  b. 43

Notation in FE, literal reading

Notation in FE (contextual interpretation→EE)

Our alternative suggestion

Our second alternative suggestion

The rhythmic notation of the first half of the bar in FE is problematic – it is particularly the layout of the R.H. part against the accompaniment that is questionable. FE are not reliable in this respect: in similar situations in b. 17 and 41, the R.H. part was laid out 'at a guess,' without considering its alignment with the L.H. semiquavers (such situations can also be encountered in other pieces by Chopin). The remaining figures written in small quavers – in b. 17, 41 and 49 – fill a specific rhythmic value, which theoretically strictly determines the tempo of their performance. According to us, it is also the discussed run that should be performed in a similar tempo, filling 2 or 3 semiquavers, depending on whether we compare it with b. 17 or 41 and 49. We believe that the latter is more natural and suggest it in the main text; it was also applied in EE.

Therefore, one can ponder whether the bar contains a mistake concerning the rhythmic value of the initial a2. Had it been the quaver flag that was overlooked, the alleged Chopinesque notation – with dotted quaver – would have determined the layout we suggested based on our analysis of the runs' tempo. Moreover, the first of the suggested, faster tempo could have resulted from the Chopinesque notation if we assume that the dot extending the first a2 was added by mistake. We suggest both possibilities as alternative versions, reproducing the Chopinesque notation, perhaps distorted in the sources.

Compare the passage in the sources »

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: EE revisions, Inaccuracies in FE

notation: Rhythm

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