mUltimate Chopin

Op. 28 No. 8, Prelude in F♯ minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Deletions in A

b. 1

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

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EE added a poorly justified cautionary  before a2, probably by analogy with b. 5. In A one can see that Chopin initially wrote that accidental, whereupon he considered it superfluous and crossed it out.

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

issues: EE revisions , Deletions in 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 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

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

g in sources, literal reading

g, our alternative suggestion
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The main text is the version of the sources (interpreted literally). However, the crossings-out and corrections in this figure, visible in A, allow us to assume that Chopin forgot to insert a  lowering g to g, especially if he introduced the changes already after having written the next figure, which undoubtedly features a g (with a ). We include this possibility, resulting in a version analogous to b. 10, as a variant.

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

issues: Corrections in A , Errors of A , Deletions in A , Accompaniment changes

b. 10

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

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In A one can see corrections on the 2nd beat of the bar – the R.H. figure was crossed out and rewritten on the stave above. Chopin wanted to change the enharmonic notation of the 5th and 6th demisemiquavers from f2-d2 to e2-c2; eventually, however, when writing the 6th demisemiquaver as c2, he again changed his mind and returned to d2 (he introduced the change of f1 to e1 also in the L.H.).

category imprint: Corrections & alterations; Source & stylistic information

issues: Corrections in A , Chopin's hesitations , Deletions in A , Enharmonic corrections