Op. 2, Variation IV, primitive version

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.

In AsI the first 8 bars are repeated, which is indicated by two versions (volte) of bar 8, out of which the first one constitutes a link between bar 7 and 1, while the other is a counterpart of bar 8 in A. There are no standard repeat signs; Chopin only placed a double bar line after bar 8 (1. volta) (in this manuscript all repetitions are marked in a way similar to this).
A similar situation is to be found in bars 9-24.

The double bar line in A separates the upbeat of the 2nd part of this variation, which does not result here from the musical substance itself – cf. the more noticeable divisions in the theme and in variations I and III. Chopin was not consistent in indicating this division – a double bar line before the 4th quaver in the bar is present only in the theme (in A and the editions) and in variation III (in AsI).

The presence of two volte in bar 24 proves that Chopin envisioned in AsI a repetition of the 2nd part of the variation. In the entire piece, AsI does not include a single standard repeat sign, although in a few places – as is the case here – alternative endings of certain sections prove that repetitions were intended. See also bar 8.

The manuscripts differ in the notation of the L.H. semiquavers – in AsI they are on the bottom stave, while in A Chopin wrote them on the top stave, emphasising the fact that both hands coincide on these notes.