mUltimate Chopin

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Errors in CK

b. 52

composition: WN 37, Lento con gran espressione

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Except for the arbitrary, whole-bar slur of CB, all the remaining ones present in the sources are related to irregular groups. Due to this reason, we discuss them in the note concerning rhythmic differences.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Balakirev's revisions , Errors in CK

b. 52

composition: WN 37, Lento con gran espressione

No marks in A1, CK (→CB) & EL

Staccato dots in CJ
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Like in b. 51, Chopin used staccato dots in  to specify a nuance of articulation in [A2]. However, this detail was repeated here only in CJ .

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Errors in CK

b. 55

composition: WN 37, Lento con gran espressione

No slurs in A1, CJ & EL

Slur in CK

Slurs in CB
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The slur of CK raises serious doubts in terms of both its range and placement – nowhere else does the slur encompass two such L.H. figures or is placed under the notes. Therefore, it is probably an inaccuracy or a mistake; it may have had something to do with a slur concerning only one of the figures or emphasising the bass sequence: c-A-G. Since it is absent in the principal source – CJ – in the main text we do not include this questionable mark. The slurs of CB are part of a comprehensive revision – see b. 6-19. 

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Errors of JC , Balakirev's revisions , Errors in CK , Inaccuracies in CK

b. 56

composition: WN 37, Lento con gran espressione

Grace notes in A1 & CJ

No grace notes in CJ (→CK) & EL
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The missing grace notes opening the trill are almost certainly Kolberg's mistake, who interpreted them as a . This version was copied in CB and EL, yet Balakirev omitted the , completely superfluous in this context (on the crossed-out first version of the last page of CB, one can see that the Russian composer started writing this , yet after putting the first vertical line, he realised that it was pointless here and abandoned it).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in CK

b. 59-60

composition: WN 37, Lento con gran espressione

No marks in A1 & EL

Accent in bar 60 in CJ

Accent in bar 59 in CK

2 accents in CB

2 long accents, our alternative suggestion
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Since both CJ and CK are based on [A2], their differing versions cannot be true at the same time. However, there are no grounds to consider one of them to be more likely than the other. According to us, it is also likely that according to Chopin's intention, it was both minims that were supposed to be accented – it could have been Chopin himself that overlooked it in [A2] or both copyists at the same time. This version was implemented in CB, and we suggest it in the main text. As an alternative solution we suggest two long accents, whose application in this context – long notes – is closer to the Chopinesque practices concerning the choice of accents.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: Long accents , Errors of JC , Balakirev's revisions , Errors in CK