mUltimate Chopin

Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : EE revisions

b. 16

composition: Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

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In the main text we include the naturals before the penultimate R.H. octave (d3-d4) present in GE and EE. The absence of those accidentals in FE suggests that they were not included in the manuscripts and that the revisers of EE and GE added them while correcting an overlooked cancellation of alteration (typical of Chopin).

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Omissions to cancel alteration , GE revisions , Errors repeated in FE

b. 17-18

composition: Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

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In FE (→EE) the L.H. part octaves (from the 2nd beat of b. 17 to the end of the 1st beat of b. 18) are written in a simplified way with the use of con 8va. In the process, in FE both ties to F1-F in b. 17 were given, whereas in EE only the top one. According to us, it is the version of FE that corresponds probably to the notation of [A], while in GE the abbreviations were expanded. There is a similar situation in all four analogous places. 

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in EE , Abbreviated octaves' notation

b. 20

composition: Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

Grace notes A-B and A-B in GE1 & EE2

Grace notes A-B and A-B in FE & GE2

Grace notes A-B and A-B in EE1
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Out of the three source versions of the double grace notes present both before the 3rd trill and after it, it is only one that is correct – A-B before and A-B after. It results from a comparison of this bar with four repetitions thereof in b. 46, 72, 279 and 305:

  • this is the only version appearing – in b. 46 – in both editions based directly on the manuscripts, hence GE1 and FE1;
  • in GE1 this version is in all those places;
  • no musical reasons support the introduction of different versions of such details in the course of the Polonaise;
  • the different versions of FE can be explained by mistakes of the copyist or of the engraver.

In the discussed bar the missing  in GE2 is an oversight of the engraver, while the  instead of a  in EE1 – most probably a mistake, rectified in EE2.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in FE , Errors in GE , GE revisions , Errors repeated in EE

b. 22

composition: Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

Chord without b1 in GE & FE (→EE1)

Chord with b1 in EE2
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The chord with b1 in EE2 (→EE3) is an arbitrary revision, probably resulting from a comparison with b. 48 and 281, in which the first chord features that note in all sources (probably by mistake).

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: EE revisions

b. 25

composition: Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

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In EE1 the quaver beaming of the last two L.H. octaves was overlooked. The patent oversight was corrected in EE2 (→EE3).

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in EE