mUltimate Chopin

Op. 2, Variations, complete

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Sign reversal

b. 180

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

in A (→GE1→GE2)

 in FE & EE

 in FESB

in GE3
..

According to the editors, the  sign in A (→GE1→GE2) is entered imprecisely because it includes a rest during which a crescendo cannot be started. In the main text, we give it a scope analogous to the next such sign. A similar interpretation is used in FE and EE, as well as in FESB, in which, however, the sign is reversed (diminuendo instead of crescendo). It's hard to say whether this was an intentional change or a mistake. On the contrary, in GE3 the sign was slightly extended, which was probably a revision.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Scope of dynamic hairpins , GE revisions , Sign reversal , FE revisions , Revisions in FESB ,

b. 180

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

 in A

 in GE (→FE,EE,FESB)
..

It is difficult to say whether the change in the direction of the dynamic hairpin under the second two-note motif was introduced intentionally by Chopin or the reviser of GE1, or whether it is the result of an engraver's mistake. The lack of visible traces of changes in the print rather indicates an adjustment or – what the editors believe is most likely – an error. The engraver could have made the quite common "mirror" error by simply inverting the sign (cf. e.g. Nocturne in D Op. 27 No. 2, b. 6), or perceived this and the previous sign to be a pair  , very common in music in general, and in these Variations in particular. Therefore, we leave in the main text the only undoubtedly authentic version of A.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE , GE revisions , Sign reversal

b. 265

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

in A

in GE1 (→GE2)

 in FE1, EE & GE3

in FESB
..

The  hairpin is written in A between the staves and begins after the 1st R.H. chord (in Af the bottom arm starts as early as at the beginning of the bar). In GE (→FE,EE) the mark was moved to over the R.H. part, which, in this case, does not significantly influence its meaning. The change was most probably forced by lack of space between the staves; it cannot come from Chopin. The slight change of range in GE1 (→GE2) – the beginning of the mark was moved slightly to the right – was intensified by all subsequent editions, while FESB additionally reversed the direction of the mark, which is a frequent mistake in the first editions of Chopin's pieces. 

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE , Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccuracies in FE , Placement of markings , Scope of dynamic hairpins , GE revisions , EE inaccuracies , Sign reversal