Issues : Long accents

b. 37-38

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

5 long accents in A

Different accents in FC, possible interpretation

5 short accents in FE & GE

5 vertical accents in EE

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Five clear long accents in A were not correctly reproduced in any other source. In FC it is the last two and possibly the first one with arms of different length that could be considered long; we assume that it is only the last two accents that are long. FE and GE contain common, short accents, which was the most common way the Chopinesque long accents were interpreted by the engravers. The vertical accents of EE resulted from an arbitrary practice, typical of that edition.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , EE revisions , Inaccuracies in FE , Inaccuracies in FC

b. 53-54

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

Long accents in A, literal reading

Short accents in A, contextual interpretation (→FCGE, →FEEE)

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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. 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

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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