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Op. 28 No. 2, Prelude in A minor

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Verbal indications

b. 1-22

composition: Op. 28 No. 2, Prelude in A minor

..

As does not contain any performance indications – verbal indications, slurs, dynamic hairpins, pedalling marks, arpeggio marks. This is a consequence of the draft nature of this manuscript. We point out those deficiencies in subsequent notes only the first time the particular elements of notation appear.

category imprint: Differences between sources

b. 13-18

composition: Op. 28 No. 2, Prelude in A minor

dim. - - to bar 18 in A

dim. - - to bar 18 in FC

dim. - - to bar 17 in FE (→EE) & CGS

dim. - - to bar 17 in GE
..

The indication dim. - - is written in A (→FC→GE) over the top stave. As in this context it must concern the L.H. too, we place it in a standard position, i.e. between the staves. In the main text we reproduce the range of the indication after the literal interpretation of A. The further range of diminuendo in FC is an inaccuracy that occurred at the stage of reproducing A, although the notation of A does not rule out that it could have actually been Chopin's intention. In the editions the dashes marking the range of the indication end in b. 17, which is an inaccuracy resulting most probably from a different division of the text into great staves – both in the manuscripts and the editions the indication was led to the last bar of the great stave, which is b. 18 in A and FC and b. 17 in the editions.
The minor shift of the starting point of the indication in GE was an arbitrary action of the engraver.
In EE the word diminuendo was divided into syllables, which was a frequent procedure in that edition. The crossings-out visible in A show that in this case Chopin considered such a notation to be wrong for some reason.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations; Source & stylistic information

issues: EE revisions , Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccuracies in FE , GE revisions , Inaccuracies in FC

b. 17-18

composition: Op. 28 No. 2, Prelude in A minor

slentando in A (→FE) & CGS

slentando in FC

slentando in GE

slentando in EE
..

In A Chopin started writing the indication slentando at the end of b. 17, just after the last quaver in that bar. In FC the beginning of that indication occurs slightly earlier, and the handwriting is more condensed, as a result of which, in GE, in which b. 18 opens a new line, slentando was divided into 2 parts; moreover, it was moved further to the left. In FE the entire word was placed in b. 18, which, according to us, better conveys the notation of A. That notation, although not entirely accurately, was also reproduced in EE.
Fortunately, the placement of this indication, although problematic for editors, does not make a huge difference in practice.

category imprint: Differences between sources