mUltimate Chopin

Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Authentic corrections of FE

b. 63

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

d2 in A & FE2, GE & EE

b1 in FE1
..

The b1 note in FE1 must be a mistake of the engraver, corrected in FE2 (probably by Chopin). The correct version in GE and EE may mean that it was also the bases for these editions that included Chopinesque corrections; however, it is uncertain, since such a mistake could have been detected by the reviser thanks to the very regular structure of the passages of this section.

In A, one can see another deleted note between the f1 and d2 quavers, most probably b1. The gaps between the notes in the entire group suggest that it was not replaced by d2, but removed from the initial version of the passage, which probably did not include the 2nd quaver, d1: .

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations; Source & stylistic information

issues: EE revisions , Errors in FE , Corrections in A , Terzverschreibung error , GE revisions , Deletions in A , Authentic corrections of FE , Main-line changes

b. 66

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

No indication in A

ritenuto in FE (→GE,EE)
..

The ritenuto indication was added – almost certainly by Chopin – in the stage of proofreading FE (→GE,EE).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Authentic corrections of FE

b. 68

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

in A

     in FE (→EE)

    in GE
..

In A, there is only one  mark, at the beginning of the bar. The remaining ones were added in the stage of proofreading FE (→EE) – along with the markings in the next bars – almost certainly by Chopin. One can have doubts whether all the marks entered by the composer were put in the correct place, since Chopin would often put them inaccurately, while the engravers would sometimes combine them with a wrong note. It is particularly the second  mark that seems to be placed too far (cf. b. 72, in which the 2nd  mark is placed certainly a crotchet too late). Due to the above, according to us, both versions of the editions may be considered equal variants.

In both cases, "harmonic legato" is probably to be applied (holding the chord's elements with fingers): .

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: GE revisions , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 69-73

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

No markings in A

Pedalling in FE (→GE,EE)
..

Detailed pedal markings concerning this theme (b. 68-81) were added in the stage of proofreading FE (→GE,EE), almost certainly by Chopin. See also the notes in b. 68 and 72, in which we discuss minor differences in the placement of the markings.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Authentic corrections of FE

b. 74-81

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

No markings in A

Pedalling in FE (→GE,EE)
..

The pedal markings in these bars, as in the previous ones (starting from b. 68), were almost certainly added by Chopin in the stage of proofreading FE (→GE,EE).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Authentic corrections of FE