mUltimate Chopin

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

b. 202-204

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

1. Original version in A

2. Later version of A (→FE1,EE)

3. GC, contextual interpretation

GE

4. FE2 (→FE3)

Our variant suggestion
..

The ending of the Ballade has a few versions proving Chopin's hesitations. We present them below in a chronological order:

  1. The original version in A.
  2. The later version in A (→EE), added by Chopin under the deleted version No. 1. This version was copied to GC, where Chopin would then modify it (with an erroneous c1 instead of d1 in bar 203).
  3. The version of GC changed by Chopin. This version was adopted by GE by correcting the bottom note in bar 203 and adding an erroneous slur combining the grace note and the g minim.
  4. The version of FE2, corrected by Chopin.

As it can be seen, Chopin had two main concepts of the Ballade's endings, "open" and "close." According to us, it is the version No. 1 that presents the first of them in the most thoughtful manner, while in the case of the latter it is the version No. 4. In the main text we give the version No. 1, enriched with variant, characteristic for Chopin grace note added in GC.

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

issues: Corrections in A , Chopin's hesitations , Errors resulting from corrections , Terzverschreibung error , Deletions in A , Authentic corrections of FE , Errors of GC , Authentic corrections in GC

b. 202

composition: Op. 35, Sonata in B♭ minor, Mvt I

B in GC (→GE) & FE2 (→EE,FE3→FE4)

G in FE1
..

The version of FE1 is most probably a mistake, corrected already in FE2.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE , Terzverschreibung error , FE revisions

b. 202

composition: Op. 35, Sonata in B♭ minor, Mvt I

..

In the main text we add cautionary flats before B in the L.H. and b1-b2 in the R.H.

category imprint: Editorial revisions

b. 202

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

Quavers in A (contextual interpretation)

Dotted rhythm in GE (→FE→EE)
..

The bottom voice in the R.H. is written in A with a rhythmic error: . We assume that Chopin wrote a dot extending the f1 quaver by mistake ("in a flow" after a few other dotted rhythms in bars 201-202); afterwards, he noticed his mistake and left two quavers, expecting that the poorly visible dot would not mislead the engraver. The quavers correspond to the rhythm in the 1st violin part in Morch and they are compatible with a similar motif two bars earlier. The version of the editions, whose compliance with Chopin's intention cannot be entirely excluded, can be considered an alternative to the interpretation adopted in the main text. 

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: GE revisions , Rhythmic errors , Errors of A

b. 202-203

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

No slur in A

Slur in GE (→FE→EE)
..

The slur appearing in the editions is most probably a result of misunderstanding of A by the engraver of GE1 – he took the bottom part of the 'g' letter from the instrument indication (Fag) for a slur.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE