mUltimate Chopin

Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

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Issues : EE revisions

b. 174

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

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In FE, there are no dots prolonging the 1st chord. The patent mistake was corrected by GE and EE.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in FE , GE revisions

b. 179

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Notation in A (→FE)

Notation in GE

Notation in EE
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The individual voices of the polymetric R.H. figure are not strictly placed in any of the sources, regardless of whether with respect to each other or whether with respect to the L.H. quavers. According to us, as far as the mutual relations between the R.H. voices are concerned, the only imprecision in the notation of A (→FE), i.e. all voices falling on the a1-d1-g2 chord, is intentional and directly indicates the performance manner intended by Chopin. In turn, the attempts of GE and EE to perfect this notation are unsuccessful – in both editions the quaver triplet in the top voice fills the last crotchet of the bottom voice quadruplet, which is a mistake, since the top voices are formally written down in a regular three-crotchet division. Moreover, the aforementioned chord was divided by EE, which, although mathematically correct, is contrary to the Chopinesque notation and most probably to the performance too.
As far as the mutual arrangement of both hands is concerned, it is only the version of FE that can be considered correct, i.e. the only featuring the correct synchronisation of the R.H. quadruplet with the L.H. quavers. The version of A is simply inaccurate in this respect, while the one of GE and EE – erroneous.
In the main text we reproduce the notation of FE, the only one devoid of mistakes in the arrangement of notes yet preserving the nature of the notation of A (a1-d1-g2 as the second element of the quadruplet). According to us, practically, one could apply another improvement: the last 2 quavers could be included in the superior rhythm of the crotchet quadruplet: . In the Chopinesque version, the gap between the last a1 note in the quadruplet and the f1 note belonging to the triplet is very small (1/6 of a quaver), and the difference between the position of the e2 quaver in the Chopinesque version and the one suggested here is twice as much smaller, which justifies them being equated.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , GE revisions , Inaccuracies in A

b. 194-195

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Slur to a1 in A & EE

No slur in FE

Slur to g1 in GE
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The analysis of the corrections of slurs in similar motifs that are visible in A – in b. 8-19, 100-101 and perhaps 198-199, one can see that the slurs were being prolonged so that they reached the minim ending the motif – leads to the conclusion that the slur in the discussed bars is the initial version of slurring of this figure, left by inadvertence. Therefore, in the main text we give a longer slur, compliant with the final slurring concept.
The absence of the slur in FE must be an oversight by the engraver, which was amended – most probably on the basis of a comparison with analogous figures – both by GE and EE. The reviser of GE probably took into account previous similar places too, whereas his English colleague looked only at the nearest figure, in b. 196.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in FE , GE revisions , Omitted correction of an analogous place

b. 195

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Slur & dots in A & EE

No markings in FE (→GE)
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The missing slur and dots in FE (→GE) must be an oversight by the engraver; he also overlooked a slur in the previous bar. The markings were added by EE.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in FE

b. 195-205

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

No L.H. slurs in A (→FE→GE,EE1→EE2)

L.H. slurs in EE3
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In the main text we add slurs to the staccato dots with which the pairs of L.H. crotchets are marked in these bars (Chopin wrote such slurs only in the 2nd halves of b. 196, 198 and 200). We provide an extensive justification of this decision in the note concerning b. 9-21. As was the case there, slurs were added here also by EE3 (except for the 2nd half of b. 199).
Isolated cases of adding slurs, probably resulting from the engravers' mistakes, are visible in GE1a in the 2nd half of b. 195, in GE (including in GE1a) in the 2nd half of b. 201 and in FE and all the remaining editions in b. 202. 

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: EE revisions , Errors in GE , GE revisions , Authentic corrections of FE , FE revisions