mUltimate Chopin

Op. 11, Concerto in E minor, Mvt II

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Authentic corrections of FE

b. 16

composition: Op. 11, Concerto in E minor, Mvt II

No sign in FE (→GE)

Arpeggio sign in EE
..

The arpeggio added in EE is most probably an arbitrary addition, which is proved by the Chopinesque proofreading of FE:

  • removed arpeggio mark, initially printed – perhaps by mistake – before that chord; traces of that procedure are clearly visible in FE;
  • the 1 digit added before the d1-f1 third in the last phase of proofreading (it is absent in GE); in this context, it has only one meaning, i.e. to perform the third simultaneously with the 1st finger.

A tenth chord, also without arpeggio and with the minor third on the black keys performed simultaneously with the 1st finger, marked by Chopin with a curly bracket, is featured in the Prelude in A major, op. 28, no. 7.
There is a similar situation in analogous bar 57, see also the note below.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 16

composition: Op. 11, Concerto in E minor, Mvt II

1 in FE

No fingering in GE

1-2-4-5 in EE

1[ suggested by the editors
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According to us, the 1st finger given in FE next to the d1 note indicates a simultaneous performance of the d1-f1 third with that finger. The same is suggested by the fingering added by Fontana in EE. No fingering in GE may indicate that Chopin added the digit in FE in the last phase of proofreading. There is a similar situation in analogous bar 57. 

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: EE revisions , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 23

composition: Op. 11, Concerto in E minor, Mvt II

..

The traces of changes to print, visible in FE, prove that the grace note was initially printed – most probably by mistake – at the pitch of f1.

category imprint: Source & stylistic information

issues: Terzverschreibung error , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 37

composition: Op. 11, Concerto in E minor, Mvt II

..

In FE, there are visible traces of a correction performed to the slur that originally did not encompass the last two semiquaver triplets.

category imprint: Source & stylistic information

issues: Authentic corrections of FE

b. 44

composition: Op. 11, Concerto in E minor, Mvt II

b1 in chord in FE (→EE1) & EE3

No b1 in GE & EE2
..

The missing b1 note on the last quaver in GE may be an oversight. According to us, however, it is more likely that Chopin added this note in the last proofreading of FE. It is indicated by visible traces of changes in FE, i.e. an inaccurate alignment of the upper section of the stem, reaching this note, with respect to the lower one, which would be impossible if the entire stem was engraved as one line, and the trace of removing b1 in the last chord in the R.H. Therefore, the proofreading would consist in replacing the broad chord in the R.H. (with a span of a ninth) – b1-e2-b2-c3 – with an easier chord – c2-e2-b2-c3 – and in adding a b1 to the last chord in the L.H.
In EE2 the b1 was probably deleted due to a comparison with a copy of GE; the correct text was reinstated in EE3.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in GE , Authentic corrections of FE