mUltimate Chopin

Op. 28 No. 4, Prelude in E minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : GE revisions

b. 10-12

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

2 slurs in As

2 slurs in A (→FC)

2 slurs in GE

Slur in FE
..

The longer slur of As is probably the initial version, concerning the crossed-out version of the melodic line in b. 10-11. It is indicated by a second slur between b. 11-12, which begins only just over the a1 crotchet, added (or left) as valid after corrections.
It most probably means that the second slur was also added only after those corrections, probably with intent to replace the first, longer slur with it.
The missing slur in b. 11-12 in FE (→EE) is a mistake of the engraver; in turn, leaving the grace note in b. 11 out of the slur in GE and adding a little slur combining that grace note with the crotchet in EE are editorial revisions.

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

issues: EE revisions , Errors in FE , GE revisions

b. 16-19

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

stretto - - - in A

stretto - - - in FC

stretto - - - in GE

stretto - - - in FE

stretto - - - in CGS
..

In the notation of A it is not entirely clear where Chopin wanted to begin stretto or how far the dashes marking its range are supposed to reach. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that the remaining sources reproduce those details differently, which we consider inaccuracies, with the exception of the version of GE, in which the dashes are led as far as to the beginning of b. 19, which is clearly contrary to the notation of FC. In the main text we assume that stretto is to be combined rather with g2 than a1 and that the dashes reach f1 in b. 18. The major divergence from the Chopinesque notation is to be seen in CGS, in which stretto is written in the middle of the 1st half of b. 16 and the dashes only just in the 2nd half of b. 17, as a result of which it is actually unclear how they are to be considered jointly (in that copy, just like in FE, the entire indication is placed between the staves). It was probably caused by lack of space between the staves.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: GE revisions , EE inaccuracies , Inaccuracies in FC , Inaccuracies in A , Errors in CGS

b. 18

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

..

We add a cautionary  to d2 in the main text. The accidental was added only in GE2 (→GE3).

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: GE revisions

b. 19

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

Slur from crotchet in As & GE

Slur from grace note in remaining sources
..

The slur of As begins more or less in the middle of the bar, so it can be interpreted as starting from the f1 minim. According to us, a slur of such a range concerned the initial version of the ending of the bar; following its deletion, it is only the a1 crotchet that remained, and the slur inevitably begins from it. A slur starting from the a1 crotchet is also included in GE; however, it is a result of a routine revision, adjusting the notation to certain general notation conventions. 

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: GE revisions