mUltimate Chopin

Op. 28 No. 5, Prelude in D major

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Inaccuracies in FC

b. 1-5

composition: Op. 28 No. 5, Prelude in D major

Pedalling in A, contextual interpretation

Pedalling in FC

Pedalling in FE (→EE)

Pedalling in GE
..

The differences between the sources result from mistakes and inaccuracies of both the copyist and the engravers of FE and GE. However, the issues concerning the decipherment and the interpretation of A were caused by, e.g. a dense notation, without spaces between the staves – actually, in A there is no space for pedalling markings, added later, which resulted in them being placed inaccurately at times. The interpretation of A given in the main text corrects the position of the  marks in b. 1-2 and 5 – according to us, in A they are placed before the notes they concern, i.e. A (cf. the markings in analogous figures in b. 3-4) or D. We also move the  marks, which precede them, accordingly. See also b. 17 and 18-20.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in FE , Errors in GE , GE revisions , Inaccuracies in FC , Inaccuracies in A

b. 11

composition: Op. 28 No. 5, Prelude in D major

in A (→FE→EE)

in FC (→GE)
..

Due to the coincidence of minor inaccuracies of FC and GE, the  mark in the latter was already placed much farther than in A. We also assume that the versions of FC and GE, differing by a half of a semiquaver, are equivalent.  

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccuracies in FC

b. 33-34

composition: Op. 28 No. 5, Prelude in D major

Pedalling in A (→FE→EE)

Pedalling in FC

Pedalling in GE
..

The pedal change between b. 33 and 34 is written in FC inaccurately – one can get the impression that the pedal is to be pressed already on the last semiquaver in b. 33. It caused a minor inaccuracy in GE too, in which the  mark was placed clearly before that note.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in FC

b. 33

composition: Op. 28 No. 5, Prelude in D major

 from mid-bar in A

 from beginning of bar in FC (→GE) & FE (→EE)
..

An earlier starting point of the  hairpin than in A seems to be an almost insignificant inaccuracy. However, the notation of A may suggest a certain detail, e.g. a correspondence between crescendo and the presence of the separated middle voice, hence in the main text we leave it unchanged. The inaccuracy of both FC and FE shows that adjusting longitudinal marks – hairpins, slurs – to rhythmic structures was not only a mannerism of engravers.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in FE , Inaccuracies in FC

b. 36-37

composition: Op. 28 No. 5, Prelude in D major

 in A, contextual interpretation

Shorter  in FC (→GE)
..

In A this bar opens a new line, while the  mark begins still before the accolade, which suggests that it should start earlier, e.g. in the previous bar. Therefore, it is almost certain that considering it an extension of the  hairpin from the preceding bars, as it was performed both in FC (→GE) and FE (→EE), is right.
The slightly shorter mark in FC (→GE) is an inaccuracy of the copyist.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in FC , Hairpins denoting continuation