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b. 204

composition: Op. 16, Rondo in E♭ major

in FE (→GE,EE)

suggested by the editors
..

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Editorial revisions

issues: Inaccuracies in FE

b. 204-205

composition: Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

..

In AImaz a dotted rhythm is to be found three times here – on the 1st beat of b. 204 and on the 2nd beat of b. 205 and  further on in b. 204. In the case of the latter, the dots prolonging the crotchets and the quaver flags were most probably added as a change of the initial version with two crotchets. In the final version of the Polonaise, this motif appears twice (also in b. 145-146), in which a dotted rhythm was used only at the beginning of b. 145.

category imprint: Corrections & alterations; Source & stylistic information

issues: Chopin's hesitations , Dotted or even rhythm

b. 204

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Dots & slur in A (→FE→EE)

No markings in GE
..

The missing dots and slur are a patent mistake by the engraver of GE1, repeated by GE1a and subsequent impressions of GE.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE

b. 204-205

composition: Op. 49, Fantaisie in F minor

Slurs separated in b. 204 in A (→GE)

Slurs chained in b. 205 in FE (→EE)

Slurs separated in b. 205, our alternative suggestion
..

As in bars 199-203, the FE slurs may be an authentic variant of phrasing, yet most probably written down inaccurately. We assume that the beginning of the slur in bar 205 is probably erroneous (from the 1st chord, suggesting that the phrase should be divided internally, resulting in the dominant chord leading to the tonic chord being separated from it). Therefore, as an alternative for the source notation, we suggest moving the beginning of this slur over the next chord. In the main text we give here the A slurs (→GE), unquestionable in this place, despite the beginning of the slur starting in bar 204 being over the g1 semiquaver (most probably due to ink stoppage).

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 204-206

composition: Op. 12, Variations in B♭ major

Alternating B major & minor chords in FE (→GE,EE)

Major chords suggested by editors

Major chords & 1 minor one, our alterna­tive suggestion
..

According to us, when interpreted literally, the source text featuring B chords on the 1st quavers and B minor chords on the 4th ones resulted from the inaccurate notation – engrossed in carefully marking the oscillating basses in the seventh chords (g-g), Chopin did not notice that in spite of looking the same, the tonic chords sound differently, as their mode changes depending on their position with respect to the bar line. Therefore, in this context, we assume that the problematic notes are d1, which is natural, hence more likely, since d1 appears only in the passing chords and is clearly a foreign note (lower neighbouring note). Such omitted alteration cancellations belong to Chopin's most frequent mistakes.
As an alternative solution, we suggest one B minor chord in the middle of bar 206, which is a version containing a smaller number of additions to the source text, and yet acceptable from the harmonic point of view.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Editorial revisions

issues: Errors in FE , Omissions to cancel alteration , Cautionary accidentals