mUltimate Chopin

Op. 2, Variations, complete

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Chopin's hesitations

b. 200-202

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

Semiquavers in AsI

Semiquavers after AsI

Dotted rhythms in A (→GE→FE,EE)

Dotted rhythms after A (→GE→FE,EE)
..

The semiquavers appearing in bars 200 and 202 in AsI are the original version, since dotted rhythms appear both in A and editions, as well as in printed orchestral parts. However, in the orchestra part of AsI, the situation is not so clear. Its notation in bars 200-202 is short – only the part of the first violins and cellos with double basses and "as above" repeated several times, which probably refers to the previous Tutti. In bar 200, the violin part has a dotted rhythm (written incorrectly, perhaps added in a hurry), and the bass part has a semiquaver rhythm.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Chopin's hesitations , Main-line changes

b. 262

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

Chord in AsI, FE & EE3

Supplemented FE version suggested by the editors

Chords & 'Violini' in Af

Chords &  in A

Solo part only in GE (→EE1→EE2, →FESB)
..

The versions of Af and A, identical in terms of the way they sound, differ only in additions – an indication specifying the instrumental group in Af and a  in A. As was the case with the previous such insert between bars 261-262, this replica was left out by GE (→FESB,EE1→EE2). In this case, however, it is difficult to indicate the probable cause of why this edition diverts from the basis. The fact that this insert was restored to FE in the initial version proves that Chopin hesitated whether to recall a chord being the basis of the first three beats of the bar at the expense of blurring the shape of the solo part.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Chopin's hesitations , Errors in GE , Accompaniment changes , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 283

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

 on b2 in AsI & FE1 (→FE2)

No ornament in A (→GE→FESB,EE1→EE2)

 on a2 in EE3
..

In the main text we include the  added by Chopin in FE, hence in the last formation stage of the text of the Variations. Its presence also in the earliest of the preserved sources, AsI, suggests that Chopin hesitated; however, it is likely that the composer simply overlooked the mark in A. Probably on the basis of a comparison with FE2, the ornament was also added in EE3; however, it was placed inaccurately, as a result of which it seems to concern the 2nd semiquaver on the 2nd beat, a2, which is a mistake.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in EE , Chopin's hesitations , Errors of A , Authentic corrections of FE