mUltimate Chopin

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Long accents

b. 618

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

​​​​​​​in FE (→GE,EE)

Long accent over L.H. suggested by the editors

, our alternative suggestion
..

Like in bar 618, one can assume that the ​​​​​​​ mark placed under a tied, hence non-played note, was placed inaccurately. We suggest two possible interpretations of the mark:

  • a long accent over the L.H. – the mark would be inaccurately placed in terms of its vertical position (cf. bar 617);
  • diminuendo encompassing the quintuplet in the R.H., assuming an accurate placement in terms of its horizontal position.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: Long accents , Placement of markings , Scope of dynamic hairpins

b. 619

composition: Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

Short accent in EE & GC (→GE)

Long accent in FE
..

For the main text we adopt the FE long accent. Chopin many times emphasised a falling minor semitone motif, e.g. in Polonaise E, Op. 22, b. 119. 

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Long accents

b. 634-636

composition: Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

Long accents in EE & FE

Short accents in GC (→GE)
..

In the main text the chord are covered with long accents based on EE and FE. The GC notation is not completely unclear, however it seems more probable to read the marks as short accents. Such is the interpretation of GE.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Long accents

b. 637-642

composition: Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

Three long accents in EE

Six accents in GC

Long accents in FE

Short accents in GE

Our suggestion
..

Just like in the previous three bars, in the main text we present long accents as the same can be found in EE and FE, while the GC notation is ambiguous (GE has short accents). Moreover, bars 634-642 have the same shape in every source. In GC the marks are notated above the LH octaves. It seems little probable this is not consistent with the autograph. However, in GE the accents are notated below the octaves, which makes us cautious when it comes to evaluate the remaining sources, where the accents are placed between the staves. No accents in bars 639, 641-642 in EE might have resulted from negligence.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Long accents

b. 644-645

composition: Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

 in EE & GC (→GE)

Long accent in FE
..

In GC (→GE) and EE, the  marks, despite some differences, undoubtedly apply to both C major chords in these bars. We believe they represent a long accent spanning the two chords. The mark in FE is a typical long accent characteristic of this edition.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Long accents