mUltimate Chopin

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Tenuto slurs

b. 145-147

composition: Op. 35, Sonata in B♭ minor, Mvt II

Slur in bars 145-146 in GC (→GE)

No slur in bars 145-146 in FE1 (→FE2)

Tenuto slur in FE3 (→FE4)

Slur in bars 145-148 in EE
..

Both notations of the slur in bars 145-146 – GC (→GE) and FE3 (→FE4) – mean generally the same, yet the notation used in FE accentuates the necessity of holding the full rhythmic value of the chord in bar 146, which is often not observed in the case of the last note under the slur. Chopin would often use this notation, cf., e.g., 1st mov., bar 176, the Etude in A minor, Op. 25 No. 4, bar 50, in C minor, Op. 25 No. 7, bars 22, 24, 28 and 30 or the Mazurka in B minor, Op. 33 No. 4, bars 2, 4 and analog.
The slur in EE may be a result of an erroneous interpretation of the tenuto slur written by Chopin in the base text – as in FE3 – as an extention to the previous bars of the slur in bar 147. 

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Authentic corrections of FE , Authentic corrections of EE , Tenuto slurs

b. 170-172

composition: Op. 35, Sonata in B♭ minor, Mvt I

Two slurs in GC

Tenuto slur in FE (→EE)

One slur in GE
..

The slurs in GC are written neglectfully, hence their meaning is unobvious – GE regarded them as parts of one slur. In the main text we give the slur of FE, displaying a characteristic, prolonged tenuto ending, analogous to the slur in the next phrase.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccuracies in GC , Tenuto slurs

b. 187-188

composition: Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

2 slurs in GE

Continuous slur in FE (→EE)
..

In the main text we give the R.H. slurring after GE – a slur/tenuto in b. 186-187 and a longer slur starting from b. 188. Such a solution is supported by the following arguments:

  • The presence of the slur/tenuto, frequently used by Chopin, points to a high likelihood of authenticity of such slurring. In turn, the continuous slur of FE could have resulted from the engraver having misunderstood such a non-standard notation.
  • It is also the mistakes and inaccuracies of FE in the reproduction of the slurs concerning grace notes (see the note at the beginning of b. 186) that question the credibility of FE in this place, indicating a possible inaccuracy of the basis and insufficient control of the text in the edition. It justifies the choice of one source in the case of all slurs in b. 186-188.
  • The slurs of GE are compliant with the slurring of similar motifs in b. 206-208, present in all sources.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Tenuto slurs

b. 222-224

composition: Op. 35, Sonata in B♭ minor, Mvt II

Slur in GC

No slur in FE! (→FE2)

Slur in GE & FE3 (→FE4)

Slur in EE
..

The slur added – most probably by Chopin – in the proofreading of FE3 (→FE4) clearly shows that according to the composer's intention, it was not supposed to reach the next bar. The longer slur of EE may be considered in this situation an inaccurate interpretation of the slur added in the base text by Chopin (cf. bars 36-37) or an editorial revision on the basis of the analogous place of the first section of Scherzo.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in FE , Authentic corrections of FE , Tenuto slurs

b. 245-250

composition: Op. 21, Concerto in F minor, Mvt III

Tenuto slurs in A

Regular slurs in GE (→FE→EE)
..

Both in bar 246 and bar 250 the slur in A reaches almost the end of the bar, which we interpret as a slur-tenuto and we keep it in the main text. In GE (→FE→EE) the slurs end in a conventional manner, reaching only the minim on the 2nd beat of the bar.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GE , Tenuto slurs