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Op. 28 No. 20, Prelude in C minor

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b. 1

composition: Op. 28 No. 20, Prelude in C minor

 in A (→FC→GE, →FE→EE), AB & CGS

in ACh

No marking in CGS
..

The  indication in ACh suggests a slightly different concept of the Prelude, less heroic and dramatic. It is not the only change with respect to the version of A – the cresc. in the last phrase starts in ACh one and a half bar earlier.
The missing indication in CGS must be an oversight – the copyist also forgot to write the time signature on the bottom stave. 

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in CGS

b. 2-3

composition: Op. 28 No. 20, Prelude in C minor

Slur to bar 3 in A & CGS (literal reading)

Slur in bar 2, contextual interpretations of A (→FC→GE, →FE→EE) & CGS, slur in AB & ACh
..

When interpreted literally, the slur of A reaches the 1st chord in b. 3; however, neither FC (→GE) nor FE (→EE) interpreted it so. A whole-bar slur is also in AB and probably ACh (see the characterization of that autograph). A similar ambiguity concerning the range of that slur is to be found in CGS too. In the main text we give a slur reaching the last crotchet in b. 2, taking into account numerous examples of similar situations in which the inaccuracy of slurs written by Chopin is unquestionable – cf., e.g. the Prelude No. 21 in B, b. 13 and 31 or 38.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 2-4

composition: Op. 28 No. 20, Prelude in C minor

..

In AB all L.H. octaves starting from D1-D are written in an abridged manner with the con 8va indication.

category imprint: Source & stylistic information

issues: Abbreviated octaves' notation

b. 3

composition: Op. 28 No. 20, Prelude in C minor

Continuous slur in A (→FC→GE, →FE→EE) & ACh

2 slurs from 1st beat in AB

2 slurs from 2nd beat in CGS
..

The slurs of CGS in these bars are most probably doubly inaccurate, both in terms of their number and range. AB also has two slurs, and we consider that the slur in b. 3 encompasses the entire bar (Chopin probably ran out of ink). In turn, in all the sources related to the publication of the Prelude, those bars are encompassed with one slur; the same applies to ACh (we assume that the slur intentionally reaches the end of b. 4 – see the characterization of ACh).  

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 3

composition: Op. 28 No. 20, Prelude in C minor

..

We add cautionary naturals before d and d1. The accidentals were also added in EE.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: EE revisions