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Op. 28 No. 8, Prelude in F♯ minor

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b. 7

composition: Op. 28 No. 8, Prelude in F♯ minor

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There are no accidentals before the last pair of demisemiquavers in A. Therefore, they should be interpreted as c2 and c3 (the  before the 5th demisemiquaver of the bar is in force), which is, of course, impossible. In this Prelude Chopin took it for granted that the second and last demisemiquavers in each group are an octave higher than the preceding melodic note, thus he marked precisely only the pitch of the melodic notes (cf. b. 1-4). Therefore, there are no doubts that it is the bottom note that is written correctly, c2, and the inaccuracy concerns the top note, which must be a c3. Interestingly enough, the absence of a  restoring c3 was not noticed in any of the remaining sources, even in GE2, in which a cautionary  was added before c2.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: Omissions to cancel alteration , Errors of A

b. 7

composition: Op. 28 No. 8, Prelude in F♯ minor

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In A one can see a crossed-out  before g2, the 5th demisemiquaver in the last group, which proves that Chopin verified the accuracy of accidentals.

category imprint: Corrections & alterations; Source & stylistic information

issues: Deletions in A

b. 8

composition: Op. 28 No. 8, Prelude in F♯ minor

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In contrast with A, in FE (→EE) the last L.H. figure was written in the treble clef, thanks to which it was not necessary to repeat the flats next to the 2nd and 3rd semiquavers. However, FE1 misinterpreted the  before f1 as a , which changed that note into f1. The erroneous accidental was removed in FE2 (→EE). We reproduce both that mistake and the changed layout only in the graphical transcription ("transcription").

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE , FE revisions

b. 8

composition: Op. 28 No. 8, Prelude in F♯ minor

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In A before the 2nd demisemiquaver in the 3rd group, one can see a crossing-out, most probably of a  lowering it to c3. It would confirm that Chopin was convinced that accidentals before the 2nd and 8th demisemiquavers in each group are not necessary, since their pitch is determined by the preceding note, placed an octave lower. Similarly in the Prelude in E no. 19, bar 13 and 39.

category imprint: Corrections & alterations; Source & stylistic information

issues: Corrections in A , Errors resulting from corrections , Deletions in A

b. 9-12

composition: Op. 28 No. 8, Prelude in F♯ minor

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In b. 9 and 12, which fall between the lines in our transcriptions, we repeat accidentals in the 2nd half of the bar; they are not necessary in undivided bars and hence absent in the sources. Such an intervention does not influence the interpretation of the text; we reproduce the literal notation of the sources in the graphical transcription. 

category imprint: Editorial revisions