Main text
Main text
FE - French edition
FE1 - First French edition
FED - First French edition
FEFo - Forest copy
FEH - Hartmann copy
FEJ - Jędrzejewicz copy
FES - Stirling copy
GE - German edition
GE1 - First German edition
GE2 - Corrected impression of GE1
GE2a - Altered impression of GE2
GE3 - Second German edition
EE - English edition
EE1 - First English edition
EE2 - Corrected impression of EE1
EE3 - Revised impression of EE2
compare
  b. 61

No arpeggio passage in FE (→GE,EE)

Probable interpre­tation of arpeggio written in FES, contextual interpretation

Arpeggio written into FEH, literal reading

Arpeggio in FEH, possible interpretation 

We reproduce the insertion in FEH in its literal form, interpreting the antepenultimate note as a harmonically justified a2, and not b2. It is unclear whether the added passage was meant to complete the arpeggiated chord or to replace it; we consider the first possibility to be more likely. According to us, one also cannot rule out that this entry is a kind of an abbreviation – it defines a model that is to be developed into a longer figuration. We suggest a possible addition based on this assumption as an alternative interpretation of the entry. At the same time, in the descending part of the passage, we use the idea included in a variant in FES, left without placement, which is clearly similar in terms of rhythm, interval structure and hand position.
Irrespective of the problems concerning the interpretation of the insertion in FEH discussed above, its very presence is a proof that the entry of FES should be situated in this place in spite of the missing  lowering c3 to c3 – such inaccuracies are typical of Chopin's notation and belong to the most frequent flaws in the notation of his works.

Compare the passage in the sources »

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Annotations in teaching copies, Accidentals in different octaves, Annotations in FES, Authentic post-publication changes and variants, Annotations in FEH

notation: Pitch

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