A - Autograph


Date: 22 I 1839
Title: 24 Préludes
Dedication: Son ami J. C. Kessler

Autograph fair-copy of all 24 Preludes, sent from Majorca on January 22, 1839 to Julian Fontana for copying. A served as the basis for the first French edition. Many deletions and corrections together with a considerable number of various errors and inaccuracies represent the work devoted by Chopin to A but also the effort the completion of such a large manuscript demanded from the ailing composer. A more detailed description of A as a whole – see Prelude in C no. 1.

In the Prelude in G minor, it is corrections of rhythm and position of the final chords that draw our attention. In a few places Chopin overlooked necessary accidentals, e.g.  before f1 in b. 3,  before a1 in b. 14,  before d1 in b. 17 and 19 as well as 25 and 27. 

Original in: Biblioteka Narodowa, Warsaw
Shelf-mark: Mus. 93