mUltimate Chopin

Op. 28 No. 4, Prelude in E minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Main-line changes

b. 1

composition: Op. 28 No. 4, Prelude in E minor

..

In As one can see that the upbeat was added later.

category imprint: Corrections & alterations; Source & stylistic information

issues: Main-line changes , Changed phrase length

b. 10-11

composition: Op. 28 No. 4, Prelude in E minor

Version in As

Rhythm in A (→FE→EE) & CGS

Rhythm in FC (→GE)

Rhythm in FED, possible interpretation
..

The version of As, replaced then by the final edition of those motifs, resulted from corrections itself. Their traces in the form of crossings-out are almost invisible on the available photograph; however, a comparison with similarly looking corrections in b. 18-19 suggests that in both places Chopin began with similar ideas and then changed them in a similar manner.
The change of the long grace note to a short one was an arbitrary decision of Fontana, certainly contrary to the intention of Chopin, which is particularly confirmed by the Chopinesque entry in FED, difficult to interpret as a whole, but in terms of rhythm almost certainly tantamount to the addition in b. 19, which is perfectly clear.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations; Source & stylistic information

issues: Main-line changes , Fontana's revisions

b. 12

composition: Op. 28 No. 4, Prelude in E minor

Crotchet f1 in As

Quavers g1-f1 in remaining sources 
..

As contains an earlier version, in which both parts of the Prelude were slightly more distinctly separated.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Main-line changes

b. 17

composition: Op. 28 No. 4, Prelude in E minor

..

Initially, the 5th quaver of the bar in As was a f2, which offered a more schematic melodic sequence – counting from the beginning of b. 17, the melody consisted of 3 analogously structured four-note motifs.

category imprint: Corrections & alterations; Source & stylistic information

issues: Main-line changes

b. 18-19

composition: Op. 28 No. 4, Prelude in E minor

Version in As

Rhythm in A (→FE→EE)

Rhythm in FC (→GE)

Rhythm in FED
..

In an earlier version of As, two versions of the ending of these bars – one- and two-note – were presented in reverse order. The crossings-out visible in As suggest that Chopin initially wrote there more complex figures, comprising three or even four notes. The rhythmic variants at the end of b. 19 – see the note on b. 11 and 19.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations; Source & stylistic information

issues: Main-line changes