mUltimate Chopin

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Unclear hairpins in A

b. 27-28

composition: Op. 28 No. 16, Prelude in B♭ minor

  in A, contextual interpretation

  in FC

  in FE (→EE)

  in GE
..

In both  marks in A the top arm is clearly longer than the bottom one. We adopt the range of the top arm, written first, in accordance with the more carefully written mark in similar b. 26. The relatively minor inaccuracies in the reproduction of the   marks in FC were exaggerated in GE, in which attempts were taken at placing the marks in such a way that they fill the entire bars. A similar manner, although only in b. 27, can also be seen in FE (→EE).

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources; Source & stylistic information

issues: Inaccuracies in FE , Scope of dynamic hairpins , GE revisions , Unclear hairpins in A , Inaccuracies in FC

b. 31

composition: Op. 24 No. 2, Mazurka in C major

 in A (→GE2→GE3)

GE1 (→FE→EE)
..

The extent of the hairpin mark  in A may give rise to certain doubts due to inexact alignment of the L.H. part under the R.H. part. The engraver of GE1 (→FE→EE) probably matched the beginning of the hairpin with the L.H. crotchets, which was an evident mistake later corrected in GE2 (→GE3). Applied to the R.H., the hairpin mark in A doubtless refers to the quaver figure on the 3rd beat of the bar, despite the fact that it begins a little earlier. 

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GE , Scope of dynamic hairpins , Unclear hairpins in A

b. 34

composition: Op. 27 No 2, Nocturne in D♭ major

 in A

GE (→FE→EE)
..

We give the   according to A.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Unclear hairpins in A

b. 37

composition: Op. 27 No 2, Nocturne in D♭ major

Possibly a long accent in A

Short hairpins in  GE (→FE→EE)
..

The dynamic mark in A resembles a long accent. Yet, taking into account the marking of an analogous phrase two bars earlier, it can be considered diminuendo hairpins, and was interpreted as such in GE (→FE→EE). Anyway, the difference between the two interpretations is more academic than practical, both from the graphic and the performance-related point of view.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness

issues: Long accents , Unclear hairpins in A

b. 54

composition: Op. 27 No 2, Nocturne in D♭ major

 A, graphic reading

 GE (→FE→EE)
..

The hairpins in A may be considered slightly too short (which is difficult to notice in practice with the narrowed notation of  A). Still. Chopin could not have intended a half-bar mark visible in GE (→FE→EE).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GE , Scope of dynamic hairpins , Unclear hairpins in A