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Title in AsI |
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Title & dedication (Czerny) in EE1 |
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Title & dedication (Czerny) in EE2 |
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Title & dedication (Woyciechowski) in EE3 |
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Title in FESB |
The fact that Chopin did not provide in the title of his Variations either the composer or the title of the opera from which the theme was coming proves the duet's huge popularity in the musical world of both Warsaw and Vienna. It was the English publisher who added the relevant pieces of information; moreover, he embellished the title with a few impressive phrases – the piece was described as an "homage to Mozart" (Hom[m]age à Mozart), the variations were "grand and brilliant" (Grandes variations brillantes), while the duet from Don Giovanni was the composer's favourite (Duo favorit). Chopin tried to deal with Wessel's pompous, arbitrary titles in later years, yet without much success – cf. the letter to Fontana of October 9, 1841: "if he [Wessel] made losses on my compositions, it must have been for the silly titles he provided them with in spite of my telling him not to and in spite of Mr Stapelton mocking them several times; had I listened to my heart, I would not have sent him a single piece more after those titles." Therefore, it could be concluded that Chopin also did not have any influence on the changes Wessel made to the dedications, although in this case there are no traces of the composer's possible protests to confirm it.
It is noteworthy that EE3 restored the authentic addressee of the dedication. It could have been linked to Czerny's death in 1857, which coincides with the time EE3 was probably being prepared.
Compare the passage in the sources »
category imprint: Differences between sources
issues: EE revisions, Dedications
notation: Verbal indications