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Op. 28 No. 9, Prelude in E major

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b. 7

composition: Op. 28 No. 9, Prelude in E major

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Due to the division of the bar between the lines adopted in our transcription, we repeat the  before b in the 2nd half of the bar, which is not necessary in an undivided bar and which, therefore, is absent in the sources. That procedure does not influence the interpretation of the text, and we reproduce the literal notation of the sources in the graphical transcription.

category imprint: Editorial revisions

b. 8

composition: Op. 28 No. 9, Prelude in E major

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In the main text we add a cautionary  before B.

category imprint: Editorial revisions

b. 8

composition: Op. 28 No. 9, Prelude in E major

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In A (→FC,FE→EE1) and CGS there is no  lowering b to b. Chopin's mistake, obvious in this context, was corrected in GE and EE2. The fact that Chopin was convinced of the presence of b in the preceding part of the bar is evidenced by the naturals written in A before B1 and b on the 4th beat of the bar. 

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , GE revisions , Omission of current key accidentals , Errors of A , Errors repeated in FE , Errors repeated in EE

b. 9

composition: Op. 28 No. 9, Prelude in E major

Single notes in sources

Octaves, our alternative suggestion
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Complementing the bass line with octaves seems to be advisable due to the shape of the motif (cf. b. 1), repeated in octaves in the next two bars (b. 10-11). The absence of those notes in the sources could have resulted from the limitations of the pianos at Chopin's disposal – their range did not go beyond C1 in the bass register. On the other hand, the absence of octaves can be linked to the  dynamics at the beginning of the crescendo – the fact that Chopin did not dispose of B2 does not have to mean that he wanted to use it. Therefore, the version with octaves can be considered an acceptable variant. Cf. the Scherzo in C Minor, Op. 39, b. 197 and 241.

category imprint: Editorial revisions

issues: Constraint from piano range

b. 11

composition: Op. 28 No. 9, Prelude in E major

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The cautionary sharp before f is present in all sources except for EE1. It means that the overlooked, and perhaps removed accidental, was then added in EE2, perhaps as part of the comparison of the text with GE1, undertaken in EE2.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Source & stylistic information

issues: EE revisions , Errors in EE , Cautionary accidentals