mUltimate Chopin

Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description
Select: 
Category
All
Graphic ambiguousness
Interpretations within context
Differences between sources
Editorial revisions
Corrections & alterations
Source & stylistic information
Articulation, Accents, Hairpins
All
Pitch
Rhythm
Slurs
Articulation, Accents, Hairpins
Verbal indications
Pedalling
Fingering
Ornaments
Shorthand & other
Importance
All
Important
Main
Undo Clear

Articulation, Accents, Hairpins

b. 24-25

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

 Different accents in A, literal reading

Long accents in A, probable reading

Short accents in FE (→GE,EE)
..

In these bars, it is difficult to determine which accents Chopin had in mind. The length of the marks differs – the second is a typical long accent, the third – short, while the first can be interpreted twofold: it is true that it is quite short; however, it is slender like a long accent. Nevertheless, it is unlikely that Chopin would have wanted to differentiate between the marks: like entire A, they were written in haste, which excludes the application of hardly noticeable graphical details. In the main text, we are leaning towards long accents due to the layout – bar 25 opens a new line; therefore, it is likely that the accent was added later, with less commitment, and it is the marks in b. 24 that represent the correct reflex. According to us, the short accents in the editions may be regarded as a less likely interpretation of the notation of A.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: Long accents , Inaccuracies in FE , Inaccuracies in A

b. 25

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

No sign in A

in FE (→GE,EE)
..

The  mark was added while proofreading FE1, certainly at Chopin's request.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Authentic corrections of FE

b. 28-30

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

No signs in A

in FE (→GE,EE)

[] &  suggested by the editors
..

The  mark in b. 30 was added while proofreading FE (→GE,EE); there are no reasons to doubt the authenticity of this addition. In the main text we suggest adding an analogous mark in b. 28 as well (in a variant form, in brackets).

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: Authentic corrections of FE

b. 32-33

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Staccato in A

       No marks in FE (→GE,EE)
..

In the main text we include the staccato dots under the octaves at the beginning of these bars, most probably overlooked by the engraver of FE (→GE,EE).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE

b. 41-43

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Short accents in A (→FE→GE)

Vertical accents in EE
..

The change of accents to vertical is a frequent arbitrary decision of EE. It is noteworthy that in bar 40 the authentic short accents were preserved, which is an example of the inconsistence of the reviser (engraver?) of EE. See also the notes on accents in b. 42 and 43.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions