Main text
Main text
A1 - Working autograph
CJ - Jędrzejewicz Copy
CK - Kolberg Copy
CB - Balakirev Copy
EL - First edition
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  b. 35-41

No notation on upper staff in A1, CJ & CB

Rests and added notes in CK

Added notes & rests in EL

The additional R.H. part notes present in CK* in b. 35-36 and 39-40 and in EL in b. 35-37 and 39-41 are most probably Kolberg's inauthentic addition: 

  • the notes are absent in the authentic sources (A1 and CJ);
  • they are also absent in CB, which means that they were either added to CK later or that they were absent in another copy of Kolberg copied by Balakirev. In any case, it proves that these notes were absent in [A2];
  • both in A1 and [A2] (→CJ,CK) Chopin clearly marked b. 35-43 to be performed with both hands with the help of rests and the direction of the stems, which makes the added voice impossible to perform.

While preparing another copy of the piece, intended as Stichvorlage for EL, Kolberg must have modified his additions by extending the minims after authentic d2 in b. 33-34 and in b. 39-41 by moving the additional voice an octave lower.


* On the photograph presented in the system, the notes are very poorly visible – one can recognise the c2 crotchets in b. 35 and 39 as well as a fragmentary contour of the minim at the beginning of b. 40. It probably results from the fact that they were almost certainly being added to an already finished copy, possibly in different ink. It is also likely that attempts were taken to remove them at some point, since on the facsimile of CK – presented as an autograph – featured in 1894 in the publication of Natalia Janotha entitled Posthumous Nocturno in C Minor, E. Aschenberg & Co., London, the discussed notes are perfectly visible.

Compare the passage in the sources »

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Kolberg's revisions

notation: Pitch

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