EE1
Main text
A1 - Autograph fair-copy
FE - French edition
FE1 - First French edition
FED - Dubois copy
GE - German edition
GE1 - First German edition
GE2 - Second German edition
EE - English edition
EE1 - First English edition
compare
  b. 19-20

No pedalling in A1 (→FEEE)

Pedalling in GE

Our variant suggestion

The missing pedalling in A1 is correlated with the rhythmic notation of the L.H.: all notes forming part of the harmonic base are held with fingers (the so-called harmonic legato). The pedalling of GE does not take the above into account, whereas a pedal held until the end of b. 19 results in an unjustified contamination of the bass sequence. According to us, it may indicate that the pedalling in [A2] was being written carelessly (hastily). Therefore, in the main text we include the pedalling of GE in a variant form only and after having corrected the placement of the  mark in b. 19.
There is a similar situation in b. 50-51 and 94-95; in b. 50 the  asterisk is placed correctly in GE2, while in b. 94 in both GE. Such a harmonic pedalling, written despite the bass notes being held due to the rhythmic values used, is included in GE also in b. 25 and analog. as well as in b. 59 and 103.
A more striking example of carelessly written pedalling can be found in the Nocturne in F Minor, Op. 48 No. 2: in b. 35-36, in spite of harmonic legato, carefully written down in the L.H. part, in one of the sources Chopin added half-bar pedals, which obliterate the sonic subtlety achieved through fingers.

Compare the passage in the sources »

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GE

notation: Pedalling

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