Title. In the titles of Chopinesque opuses, the number of pieces could be described with the use of both digits and words, e.g. the Parisian edition of Mazurkas, Op. 6 bears the title Cinq [5] Mazurkas, whereas the Mazurkas, Op. 7 – 4 Mazurkas. However, it was words that were much more common, which could have induced Fontana to change the Chopinesque orthography. What is more, it could have been Chopin himself who opted for digits due to limited space – the title in A is not placed on a separate page, but above the text of the first Prelude. In the main text we preserve the version of A (→FE), since it can be understood regardless of one's degree of knowledge of French.
The extension of the title in EE, i.e. Twenty-four grand preludes through all keys, must be an arbitrary decision of the publisher. Moreover, the wording of the title and the dedication in English is noteworthy, as it is absent in other pieces provided with an individual title page.
Dedication. In A (→FC→GE) there is the dedication: “à son ami J. C. Kessler”. However, in March 1839 Chopin wrote in a letter to Fontana: “I very much want my Preludes to be dedicated to Pleyel [...]. Nothing to Kessler. [...] Tell Probst [who acted as agent between Chopin and the German publisher] about the changed dedication”. The alteration was made in FE (→EE) and also the FC was appropriately amended. In this situation, the appearance of GE with the original dedication to Kessler can be explained by misunderstanding or reluctance to change a title page which – perhaps – was already completed. It cannot be excluded that Chopin took advantage of the fact that for commercial reasons circulation of particular editions was restricted, and decided to honour two patrons with one opus – a Frenchman with the French edition and a German with the German one.
In EE2 the dedication was placed only in the header of the first page of the score, which probably was the reason it was shortened – the information that Pleyel was a friend of Chopin was omitted.
Compare the passage in the sources »
category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations
issues: Dedications
notation: Verbal indications