The performance practice proves that bars 37-38 are generally performed slower than the preceding fragment marked Più mosso. Therefore, one could consider the placement of meno mosso to be more accurate in GE. However, according to us, it is wrong, since the nature of bars 37-38 (and, to a certain extent, also bars 35-36) is more unrestrained, cadenza-like, while the rhythmic values determine the timing in very vague terms. A new thematic section with determined tempo appears in bar 39 and it is only just there that there is a need to mark new tempo. After all, a possible authenticity of the changes present in GE is highly unlikely – it is missing variants of the text, typical of Chopin, which are not corrections of mistakes or inaccuracies.
Due to the above reason, we consider a mechanical mistake of the engraver of GE to be the most likely explanation for the discussed discrepancy between the sources; the engraver confused the great staves and placed the meno mosso indication a line higher, since the beginning of bar 37 in FE (→GE) is directly over the beginning of bar 39.
Compare the passage in the sources »
category imprint: Differences between sources
issues: Errors in GE
notation: Verbal indications