mUltimate Chopin

Op. 28 No. 10, Prelude in C♯ minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 6-7

composition: Op. 28 No. 10, Prelude in C♯ minor

Slur to a in sources

Slur to g suggested by the editors
..

In the sources the slur reaches only the last semiquaver in b. 6. A comparison with analogous situations in b. 2-3, 10-11 and 14-15 proves that it is almost certainly a result of inaccuracy of A.

category imprint: Editorial revisions

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 8

composition: Op. 28 No. 10, Prelude in C♯ minor

Slur to 2nd beat in A (contextual interpretation→FC)

Slur to 3rd beat in FE (→EE) & GE
..

In A it is unclear whether the slur encompasses d1 on the 2nd beat of the bar or whether it aims for g1 on the 3rd beat. According to us, it is the former that is more likely – the slur symmetrically encompasses the notes played on the 2nd beat of both bars, which is an argument for a symmetrical interpretation of both its ends; since the beginning of the slur undoubtedly falls on the 2nd beat of the bar, its ending is also to be interpreted so. This is how it was interpreted and clearly written down by Fontana in FC, which was, however, ignored in GE.  

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , GE revisions

b. 10-11

composition: Op. 28 No. 10, Prelude in C♯ minor

Slur to f in A, contextual interpretation

Slur to g in FC (→GE) & FE (→EE)
..

The ending of the slur in A is unclear – the slur reaches more or less the middle of the crossed-out, initial version of b. 11 (probably it was only the R.H. part that was written down). Therefore, it may mean a slur reaching further than the end of b. 10 or a slur that does not reach the f note in b. 11. Both FC and FE adopted the latter, perhaps in the belief that the crossing-out also applies to the ending of the slur, falling on b. 11. According to us, two slurs clearly reaching in A the minim that ends the passage (b. 3 and 15) are strong arguments in favour of an analogous interpretation of the notation of A in the discussed place.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 11-12

composition: Op. 28 No. 10, Prelude in C♯ minor

Slur in A (→FE→EE)

No slur in FC (→GE)
..

The missing slur in FC (→GE) is an oversight of Fontana. The slur of A was being extended so that it could also encompass the last crotchet in b. 12. The added fragment ends already in the next bar, in which, however, there is not a single element of notation to which it could have been led. Therefore, it is simply an inaccuracy, quite frequent for Chopin.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Source & stylistic information

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , Corrections in A , Embracing slurs , Errors of FC