mUltimate Chopin

Op. 28 No. 12, Prelude in G♯ minor

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Articulation, Accents, Hairpins
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Articulation, Accents, Hairpins

b. 41-44

composition: Op. 28 No. 12, Prelude in G♯ minor

No marks in A (→FC,literal reading→GE)

3 accents in FC (contextual interpretation) & FE (→EE)

4 accents in A, contextual interpretation
..

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE

b. 53-54

composition: Op. 28 No. 12, Prelude in G♯ minor

Long accents in A, literal reading

Short accents in A, contextual interpretation (→FC→GE, →FE→EE)
..

In A the accents in these bars are longer than in the next ones. The difference was considered insignificant both in FC (→GE) and FE (→EE), which seems to be the right decision, since there is no visible reason why identical pairs of bars (53-54 and 55-56) would be accented differently. However, it could be that Chopin wanted the places to be performed in a more nuanced manner, particularly since b. 53-54 (but not 55-56) were initially provided with a  hairpin in A, which was eventually crossed out. Actually, one can never rule out a nuanced performance in similar situations, even when the indications do not differ; therefore, we suggest the long accents, interpreted literally, as an alternative version. 

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

issues: Long accents , Inaccuracies in FE , Deletions in A , Inaccuracies in FC

b. 53-56

composition: Op. 28 No. 12, Prelude in G♯ minor

No marks in A (→FE→EE)

4 staccato dots in FC

Dot in bar 53 in GE
..

It is difficult to say what Fontana's motivation was when he was providing 4 subsequent L.H. chords with staccato dots, which are absent in A. One of the possibilities is a misinterpretation of the notation of A – in b. 54-55 under the quaver flags one can see the protruding endings of the stems of the chords with typical, small hooks, which are a consequence of the act of writing: the hand moves to the place where the next element of notation will be written, but the pen is detached from the paper too late. The hooks constitute small protrusions that can be regarded as dots from a distance. GE reproduced only the first of those dots.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE , Fontana's revisions

b. 61

composition: Op. 28 No. 12, Prelude in G♯ minor

Long accent in A (→FC)

No mark in FE (→EE1)

Short accent in GE & EE2
..

The typical long accent written in A was reproduced in FC less vividly, as a result of which GE gave a short accent. FE (→EE1) overlooked the mark, while EE2 added it after GE1.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , EE revisions , Errors in FE , Inaccuracies in GE