A
Main text
AsI - Working autograph of the score
A - Autograph fair copy
compare
  b. 1-12

The reproduction of the AsI notation poses a number of difficulties:

  • As was the case with the remaining variations, in many places we can see two versions (sometimes even more). The earlier one, written down in normal-sized font, is probably the initial, working version of this variation. The later one, sketched most often with small notes on the same stave as the principal version, contains variants overlapping with the final A version or close to it.
  • Some repeating hemidemisemiquaver figures are written down in an abridged manner through beams without notes (inclined accordingly).
  • Almost all R.H. semiquavers constituting the main melodic line are written without an octave sign (up to f4), as a result of which one can clearly see the leaps at the end of each passage; moreover, the natural graphic relation between the parts of both hands is maintained. Most of them are provided with letter names (for better legibility), which turned out helpful, as in many places the note text contains mistakes (mistakes in the notation of notes with a greater number of ledger lines belong to the most frequent mistakes in Chopinesque autographs).

We try to reproduce this notation, as far as possible, in the graphic transcription (version 'transcript'). On the other hand, in the content transcription ('edited text') we adjust the notation to the version Chopin used in A. Wherever alternative versions occur, we consider the initial notation to be the AsI text, providing other versions as variants.

Compare the passage in the sources »

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

notation: Shorthand & other

Go to the music

Original in: Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Wiedeń