mUltimate Chopin

Op. 2, Variations, complete

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Accompaniment changes

b. 1-8

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

AsI, contextual interpretation

Remaining sources
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In AsI, the piece begins with an orchestral eight-bar period based on a melodic and harmonic idea different from the published version. Only bars 1 and 8 show any similarity to the final version, the rest form a kind of skeleton of what the soloist then performs in bars 10-15 (this is especially clear in bars 3-6 in comparison with bars 11-14). We consider this original redaction to be the text of AsI and we present it as a unified variant of the entire bars 1-8. In addition, AsI also contains – on the page preceding the regular opening – a record of the later version, although only in the form of a string quintet score. It differs from the sources constituting the basis of the published version (A, GE1 and FE) only in the rhythm of the end of bar 8, which we describe in a separate note and include as a variant of the main text.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Accompaniment changes , Main-line changes

b. 111

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

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In the chord on the 2nd quaver in the bar (in both volte), in AsI and A the second note from the top was initially an e1. Chopin changed it to f1 both in AsI (only the first appearance) and A (both appearances, the initial notes were erased).

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

issues: Corrections in A , Accompaniment changes

b. 115

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

Quavers in AsI

Crotchet in A (→GE→FE,EE)
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category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations; Source & stylistic information

issues: Accompaniment changes , Main-line changes , Corrections of AI

b. 126

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

e1-a1 in AsI

e1-a1 after AsI

a1-c2 in A (→GE→FE,EE,FESB)

a1-c2 after A (→GE→FE,EE,FESB)
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The version of AsI is the initial version of this place. In the final one, Chopin raised the position of the 2nd and 3rd L.H. quavers and simplified the excessively precise rhythmic notation of the 2nd half of the bar in which both notes have the value of semiquavers complemented with rests.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Accompaniment changes

b. 127

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

4-note chords in AsI

4-note chord after AsI

Octave in A (→GE→FE,EE,FESB)

Octaves after A (→GE→FE,EE,FESB)
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The full B major chord on the 1st L.H. quaver present in AsI was replaced by Chopin with an octave in both volte (in the final version Chopin abandoned the repetition of b. 112-127, but in A the 1st volta encompassing b. 127 is written out and deleted in such a way that it can be deciphered).

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

issues: Accompaniment changes