mUltimate Chopin

Op. 2, Variations, complete

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Errors in GE

b. 25-28

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

4 longer & 3 shorter slurs in A, literal reading

7 longer slurs in A, contextual interpretation

6 shorter slurs in GE1 (→GE2)

7 shorter slurs in FE, EE 7 GE3
..

The range of the small slurs under the groups of grace notes differs in A; however, they must be accidental inaccuracies, getting bigger as similar marks repeat themselves. The first 4 slurs prove that Chopin almost certainly meant slurs reaching the respective main notes, and this is the interpretation we adopt to the main text. In the editions, the slurs encompassed only the grace notes; moreover, GE1 (→GE2) overlooked the second slur in b. 26 (which was added in the remaining editions).

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccurate slurs in A , Errors in GE , GE revisions , Authentic corrections of FE , FE revisions

b. 35

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

g3-d4 in AsI, A, FE1 & GE2 (→GE3,FESB)

g3-c4-d4 in GE1 (→EE)
..

The version of GE1 (→EE) must be erroneous – the slightly blurred ledger line in A under d4 is not a notehead. The mistake was corrected in FE1 (→FE2) and GE2 (→GE3,FESB), in the former perhaps at Chopin's request.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE , GE revisions , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 36

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

Crotchet g in AsI & A

No note in GE (→FE,EE)
..

The missing g crotchet on the 4th beat of the bar must be an oversight of the engraver of GE (→FE,EE). This note is a pianistically and sonically natural bridge between the preceding octave sequence and g in the chord at the beginning of the next bar.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE

b. 37-38

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

g1 tied in AsI & A

g1 repeated in GE (→FE,EE)
..

The missing ties to g1 in these bars could be easily considered oversights of the engraver of GE (→FE,EE), particularly since they are poorly visible in A. However, 4 bars later, in an analogous phrase, the respective ties to c2 are present neither in the editions nor in A, which makes us consider possible Chopinesque corrections to the discussed bars in GE1. According to us, it is also highly likely that even if the ties were overlooked, Chopin accepted repeated g1, resulting in an ability to shape more dynamic nuances in this fragment, of a clearly agitato nature. 

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE , Authentic corrections of GE

b. 45-46

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

Different accents in A, literal reading

Long accents in A, possible interpretation

Short accents in GE1 (→FE,GE2→FESB)

Short accent in b. 46 in GE3

Vertical accent in b. 46 in EE
..

It is uncertain whether Chopin meant the accents over the B1-B and B-b octaves to be long or short, since despite a strictly analogous situation, in A the marks differ in length. In the main text we suggest long accents, since the accent of A in b. 46 can be considered long – it is also the accent over e2 in the R.H. that is shorter than its counterpart in b. 45. The version of A, when interpreted literally, and the short accents of GE1 (→FE,GE2→FESB) can be, however, regarded as equivalent variants. In the latter version, the difference between the L.H. accents (short) and the R.H. accents (long) constitutes a detail corresponding to the difference between the length of the accentuated L.H. () and R.H. () notes as well as to the difference between the liveliness and nature of the L.H. motifs and the R.H. top voice.
The omission of the first accent in EE and GE3 could be ascribed to the engravers' inattention or their reluctance to obscure the image with a mark on the stave, between the notes. The change of the accent font in EE is a specific manner of that edition.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , EE revisions , Inaccuracies in GE , Errors in EE , Errors in GE , Inaccuracies in A