mUltimate Chopin

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Partial corrections

b. 179-181

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

Double slurs in FE (→GE,EE)

Upper slur suggested by the editors
..

According to us, double slurs in this place were not intended by Chopin; they are a side effect of proofreading aimed at replacing the short slurs with one long slur like in bars 171-173. The engraver added a new slur, yet he did not remove the old ones, which Chopin either did not notice or accepted, since it does not impede the interpretation of phrasing. Due to this reason, in the main text we give only the upper, longer slur.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Editorial revisions

issues: Authentic corrections of FE , Partial corrections

b. 185

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

Long accent under L.H. in A

Accents on 2nd & 3rd R.H. quaver in GE1 (→FE)

Accents on 1st & 3rd R.H. quaver in EE

Short L.H. accent in GE2
..

In the main text we give the notation of A, the only authentic according to us. The versions of editions are a sequence of cumulative mistakes, inaccuracies, misinterpretations and arbitrary changes:

  • the most plausible explanation of the additional accent in GE1 is an unfinished proofreading – the erroneously printed accent on the 3rd quaver was left in spite of adding the correct sign on the 2nd quaver (see also the note on rhythm in this place). Moreover, both signs were printed too high, so that they seem to apply rather to the R.H., contrary to Chopin's intention, who wrote the accent in A under the crotchet in the L.H.;
  • in FE both accents already clearly apply to the R.H.; the first one was placed inaccurately, between the 1st and 2nd quavers;
  • EE added its portion of inaccuracies and arbitrary decisions, as a result of which, instead of the long accent on the 2nd quaver in the L.H., as it is in A, the edition gives two vertical accents, over the 1st and 3rd quavers in the R.H.;

GE2 generally restored the notation of A.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , EE revisions , Inaccuracies in FE , Errors in GE , GE revisions , EE inaccuracies , Partial corrections

b. 265-267

composition: Op. 31, Scherzo in B♭ minor

c1 repeated, f tied in A (→FC→GE)

c1 tied, f repeated in FE (→EE)

c1 & f tied in FESf
..

The version of FE (→EE) is almost certainly erroneous:

  • had Chopin wanted to sustain c1, he would have provided it with an accent, like in b. 285, 289, 387 & 391;
  • the repeated f note in b. 267 attenuates the syncopation value of the chord in the second bar of the phrase, clearly noticeable in all the remaining seven repetitions thereof. The tie was added in FESf.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE , Sign reversal , Partial corrections

b. 265-266

composition: Op. 31, Scherzo in B♭ minor

No slurs in A (→FC→GE)

Slurs in FE (→EE)
..

According to us, the slurs combining e with f and e1 with f1 are a result of a mistake of the engraver of FE, who placed them to the left-hand side of the chord in b. 266, whereas they should be ties, placed to the right-hand side of the chord. It is supported by the following arguments:

  • the almost certainly erroneous third curved line, which turns out to be a tie of c1 – see the adjacent note;
  • problematic purpose of this addition – in relation to the top voice, led in octaves, the slur over the entire phrase encompasses precisely the notes that are combined by the discussed slurs.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE , Sign reversal , Partial corrections

b. 282

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

..

FE1 has an a1-c2 third on the 1st quaver. It is a perfect example of an unfinished proofreading, where the correct note was printed without having removed the erroneous one. The mistake was corrected in FE2 (→EE).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in FE , Terzverschreibung error , Partial corrections