GE2
Main text
FE - French edition
FE1 - First French edition
FED - Dubois copy
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. 128

 mid-bar in FE (→EE,GE1GE2)

 at beginning of bar in GE3

The placement of the ​​​​​​​ mark in the majority of the sources gives rise to doubts, particularly if we take into account the dynamic markings in analogous bars 132, 136 and 140, in which the same mark is placed on the 2nd quaver of the bar (bar 132) or at the beginning (bars 136 and 140). It is apparent from the comparison of all four places that:

  • the general dynamic scheme of those phrases is identical – --cresc.;
  • as part of that scheme, among the indications defining the absolute level of dynamics, it is only the first two  that are not clearly related to the beginning of the passage;
  • a later indication of  in the first two phrases cannot mark dynamic nuances, since they would blur the clarity of the superior scheme.

Therefore, the notation of bar 128 and 132 is most probably inaccurate, which was, according to us, provoked by the fact that Chopin used an earlier notational convention, according to which performance indications were put within the scope of their validity, and not at the beginning. 

Compare the passage in the sources »

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: GE revisions, Centrally placed marks

notation: Verbal indications

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Original in: University of Chicago Library, Special Collections Research Center