FESB
Main text
AsI - Working autograph of score
A - Autograph fair copy
GE - German edition
GE1 - First German edition
GE2 - Corrected impression of GE1
GE3 - Second German edition
FE - French edition
FE1 - First French edition
FE2 - Corrected impression of FE1
FESB - Later French edition
EE - English edition
EE1 - First English edition
EE2 - Corrected impression of EE1
EE3 - Revised impression of EE2
compare
  b. 319-320

Regular-size notes in AsI & A (→GEEE,FESB)

Small-size notes in FE

Alternative version in FE

In each of these bars the notation of the top notes of the 6 subsequent thirds with a smaller font was introduced – certainly by Chopin or in agreement with him – in FE1 (→FE2). In his entire oeuvre, Chopin published such a simplified, alternative version, written down in such a manner, only 2 times, actually in a very similar context of a descending, chromatic sequence of sixth chords, the middle notes of which, performed by the L.H. together with the bottom ones, can be left out. Such notation is to be seen in the Grand Duo Concertant for piano and cello, Dbop. 16, bars 247-250. Remarkably, the Parisian editions of both pieces appeared in 1833; therefore, it could have been the work on the Grand Duo that suggested him the idea to introduce a similar solution in the Variations as well.

Compare the passage in the sources »

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Authentic corrections of FE

notation: Shorthand & other

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