mUltimate Chopin

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Long accents

b. 1

composition: Op. 30 No. 1, Mazurka in C minor

Long accent in FC, contextual interpretation

Short accent in FE (→EE) & GE
..

It is uncertain whether the FC accent is to be interpreted as short or long. The latter, which we adopted, is supported by the length of the accented note, the kujawiak-like nature of the Mazurka and a similar (although slightly longer) accent in the Scherzo in B minor, Op. 31, bar 18, in which Chopin's preserved autograph contains a clear long accent. We reproduce the GE mark as a short accent, since marks of similar length are most common in GE (in entire opus 30), and nothing indicates that they were treated as something unusual.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Long accents

b. 2

composition: Op. 24 No. 3, Mazurka in A♭ major

No mark in AI

 in A (→GE→FE→EE)

Our suggestion
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A (→GE→FE→EE) has a mark here. In the main text we propose reading it as a long accent for f2, guided first of all by the analogy with bar 26 in A. In AI there is no mark at all.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: Long accents

b. 2-4

composition: Op. 10 No 12, Etude in C minor

Possible short accents in A

Possible long accents in A

Short accents in FE (→GE,EE) 

Possible long accents in FE (→GE,EE) 
..

Lack of the accent in the middle of bar 4 is probably an inaccuracy of the notation of A – it seems highly unlikely that this bar was supposed to be less accentuated than bar 2. In the main text we suggest all accents added probably in a proofreading of FE (→GE,EE). The added accents do not differ from the adjacent ones, therefore, we accept both possibilities of their interpretation – cf. bars 1-6.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 2-4

composition: Op. 10 No 12, Etude in C minor

No marks in A

 signs in FE

Accent &  in GE & EE

Accents suggested by the editors.
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The  marks, added by Chopin probably in a proofreading of FE (→GE,EE), are certainly meant to be long accents and this is how we give them in the main text. In bar 2 the length of marks in GE and EE corresponds quite well with the size of Chopin's long accents, although most probably by accident.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 2-5

composition: Op. 10 No 3, Etude in E major

Two long accents in AI

Three different accents in A

  in FE (→GE,EE)
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In the main text over the semiquaver motifs in bars 2, 3 and 5 we give consequent pairs of   hairpins, introduced by Chopin in a proofreading of FE (→GE,EE). Both autographs include the previous concept, written more or less accurately, in which only the 3rd semiquaver in the bar is provided with an accent (generally long). Cf. the adjacent note on slurs.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Long accents , Authentic corrections of FE