mUltimate Chopin

Op. 28 No. 18, Prelude in F minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Errors in GE

b. 1-6

composition: Op. 28 No. 18, Prelude in F minor

4 slurs in A (→FC) & EE2

Slurs in b. 1, 2, 6 in FE

Slurs in b. 1, 2, 5 in GE

Slur in b. 6 in EE1
..

None of the editions based on manuscripts reproduced all 4 slurs over the pairs of chords in bars 1-2 and 5-6. EE1 overlooked yet 2 out of 3 slurs in FE. The complete set of slurs in EE2 results from a compilation of the slur of EE1 with the slurs reproduced from GE1.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in FE , Errors in EE , Errors in GE

b. 8

composition: Op. 28 No. 18, Prelude in F minor

Semiquavers in A (→FC,FE→EE1)

Demisemiquavers in GE & EE2
..

The change of the number of beams introduced by GE is wrong – in a  bar, it is groups including at least 32 notes (but less than 64) that should be written as demisemiquavers. In this situation, the fact that this mistake was repeated in EE2 is puzzling.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE , GE revisions

b. 13-14

composition: Op. 28 No. 18, Prelude in F minor

Dots & wedges in A (→FE→EE)

4 dots in FC

3 dots in GE

4 wedges suggested by the editors
..

Each of the chords on the 2nd beat of these bars is provided with a pair of staccato marks in A (→FE→EE), one for each hand. The change of notation with respect to the previous bars can be explained by the change of layout – the R.H. chords are written entirely on the top stave here, as a result of which the validity of the marks placed over the R.H. in the L.H. is not so obvious anymore. According to us, it is another argument confirming the accuracy of our interpretation of the marks in b. 9-12.
The use of staccato dots in b. 13 is problematic – taking into account the fact that both before and after (b. 15) Chopin wrote wedges, we consider the notation of this bar to be inaccurate in this respect; therefore, in the main text we suggest wedges in both discussed bars. The versions of FC and GE resulted from inaccuracies of the copyist and from an oversight of the engraver of GE.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: Errors in GE , Wedges , Inaccuracies in FC

b. 17

composition: Op. 28 No. 18, Prelude in F minor

Without e1 in arpeggio in GE1

e1 in A (→FC,FE→EE) & GE2 (→GE3)
..

The missing e1 in GE1 must be an oversight of the engraver. The mistake was corrected in GE2 (→GE3).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE , GE revisions