mUltimate Chopin

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Long accents

b. 434

composition: Op. 31, Scherzo in B♭ minor

Inverted long accent in A

in FC (→GE1)

in FE (→EE)

in GE2 (→GE3)

Long accent, our alternative suggestion
..

The mark in A, like in analogous b. 332, is most probably a reversed long accent, and this is the version we give in the main text. All the remaining sources reproduced it inaccurately, moving it to the right and sometimes also extending it. We suggest a common long accent as an alternative version, as written by Chopin in FC in analogous b. 332. It is likely that the change was also to apply to the discussed bar: overlooking proofreading one of the analogous places is one of Chopin's typical inaccuracies.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: Long accents , Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccuracies in FE , Omitted correction of an analogous place , Inaccuracies in FC

b. 439

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

Short accent in A (probable reading) & GE2

Long accent in A (possible reading→GE1→FE→EE)
..

The accent in A may be interpreted as both short and long. According to us, the use of a short accent is more likely – the top, shorter arm, written first, seems to convey Chopin's intention better. However, the sign was interpreted in such a way only in GE2.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , GE revisions

b. 443

composition: Op. 16, Rondo in E♭ major

Long accent in FE

Short accent in GE & EE
..

In GE and EE, the accent was reproduced as short, a typical inaccuracy for this type of marks.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , Inaccuracies in GE , EE inaccuracies

b. 448

composition: Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

Short accent in EE & GC (→GE)

Long accent in FE
..

Similarly to the previous bars (compare bars 433-446) we retain the FE notation with a long accent that seems more appropriate here. 

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Long accents

b. 453

composition: Op. 11, Concerto in E minor, Mvt I

Short acents in FE (literal reading→EE) & GE3

Long accents in GE1 (→GE2)
..

The type of accents used by Chopin does not unambiguously result from the notation of FE – the marks are longer than the definitely short accents (e.g. in bars 474-476) and placed slightly after the notes, which may be an argument for long accents. In the main text, we give short accents, since they seem to be more natural in this context. 

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , Inaccuracies in FE