mUltimate Chopin

Op. 2, Variations, complete

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : EE revisions

b. 270

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

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In this entire bar, in AsI and A there is only one  raising a1 to a1 before the 1st semiquaver. In GE (→FE) accidentals were added to a2 in the 3rd semiquaver and to a in the 2nd half of the bar. An accidental to a3 is present only in EE.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Accidentals in different octaves , GE revisions , Inaccuracies in A

b. 273

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

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The second note in the L.H. part in AsI, A (→GE→FE) and EE3 is a dotted quaver, as a result of which the bar is a semiquaver too short. In the full, orchestral version of this tutti, the cello (and bassoon) phrase starts from the beginning of the bar with a dotted crotchet, which could have suggested to Chopin that it was also in the version for one piano, after shifting the beginning to the 2nd quaver, that the new value should be dotted. The mistake, easy to detect, was noticed and corrected only by FESB. By contrast, in EE1 (→EE2) the dot prolonging this note was left out – it could have been a failed attempt at correcting this mistake.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in EE , Rhythmic errors , Errors of A , Errors repeated in GE , Errors repeated in FE , Revisions in FESB

b. 273

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

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In EE the instrument indication was changed: from the Chopinesque "Cello" to "V-llo", which, of course, denotes the same instrument. In FESB the marking reads "Collo", which is a mistake.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in FE

b. 274

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

2 R.H. f notes in AsI

5 R.H. f notes in A (→GE)

3 R.H. f notes in FE & FESB

4 R.H. f notes in EE

Our variant suggestion
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A version of FE in which R.H. quavers on the 2nd beat do not include the f notes is most likely the result of Chopin's correction of its Stichvorlage, i.e. a copy of GE1. This version, which does not suggest striking these notes with both hands simultaneously, is given in the main text. A similar adjustment was made in EE, but there is no suggestion that Chopin had any influence on the text of this edition.
Noteworthy is the version of AsI, in which Chopin omitted the first f quaver on the 2nd beat (similarly to FE), and also deleted the f semiquavers on the 1st beat. The removal of these notes, which is a kind of development of the original idea to which Chopin eventually returned, is included in the main text in variant form.

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

issues: EE revisions , Accompaniment changes , Authentic corrections of FE , Revisions in FESB

b. 277

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

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Neither AsI nor A (→GE→FE1,EE,FESB) include an accidental to the 7th semiquaver. The F major chord underlying this place is, however, thanks to the C7 chords present directly both before and after it, temporarily the tonic, which requires the use of e2, and not e2. This conclusion is also supported by bar 285 – in the orchestral version of this phrase all sources contain e2(3). The mistake, patent in this context, was, however, corrected only in the stage of proofreading FE2, probably at Chopin's request.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , GE revisions , Omission of current key accidentals , Authentic corrections of FE