mUltimate Chopin

Op. 2, Variations, complete

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Articulation, Accents, Hairpins
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Articulation, Accents, Hairpins

b. 268

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

No marks in A

Accent on d1 in GE (→FE)

2 accents in EE
..

It is highly likely that Chopin overlooked the accents, since they are present in the analogous figures both in the previous bars and the next one. It is difficult to assume that Chopin would have wanted to forgo accents, especially the one on f1, which is crucial for the modulation to the key of the final polonaise. The transition to a new page in A (the discussed bar opens the page) was conducive to distraction. The indicated harmonic context suggests that it is also the addition of an accent only over d1 in GE (→FE) that seems to be a mistake or misunderstanding in the implementation of the proofreading corrections. Therefore, in the main text we include the revision of EE, which gives both accents, over d1 and f1.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: EE revisions , GE revisions

b. 268

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

in A

cresc. in GE (→FE,EE)
..

As in bar 266, in GE (→FE,EE) the  hairpin encompassing the cresc. indication was overlooked, which could not have been authorised by Chopin.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: GE revisions

b. 268-269

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

2 staccato dots in A

Wedge in GE1 (→FE,GE2→FESB)

2 wedges in EE

3 wedges in GE3
..

In A the staccato marks over the bass G notes are clearly dots in this bar, and not wedges, as was the case before and as was conveyed by GE and the remaining editions. It was not an inaccuracy of notation, since in both places one can see traces of corrections (erasures). In the next bars, the bass notes are not marked staccato at all, which may suggest that the articulation should get gradually longer (milder?) as the modulation progresses and as the music calms down.
The absence of the second mark in GE1 (→FE,GE2→FESB) probably resulted from an oversight (or the engraver was uncertain which mark to apply). The additions in EE (the 2nd wedge in bar 268) and GE3 (the 2nd wedge in bar 268 and the wedge over the first F in bar 269) were arbitrary decisions of the revisers.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in FE , Inaccuracies in GE , GE revisions , Wedges

b. 271-272

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

2 wedges, 4 dots in A

5 wedges in GE (→FE,EE)
..

The precise Chopinesque articulation markings – wedges at the beginning of the bar and dots further on – were arbitrarily standardised in GE (→FE,EE). It was the entire finale of the Variations that was subject to this arbitrary unification of staccato markings. According to us, such a decision could have been influenced by both types of staccato intertwining in A, doubly burdensome for the engraver:

  • when deciphering the text, since the differences between the marks are not always obvious at first sight, not to mention discovering the key Chopin followed when choosing one or the other type of marks;
  • when engraving, due to the need to change the die often (or due to the need to develop a page twice, once for dots and subsequently for wedges).

The missing staccato mark over the crotchet in bar 271 is most probably the engraver's mistake.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE , GE revisions , Wedges

b. 273

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

Accent in A (→GE→FE,FESB)

No mark in EE
..

We consider the missing accent in EE to be the engraver's oversight; he probably forgot about it due to the need to change the beaming (in EE the first two beats of the L.H. part are connected by one beam).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in EE