mUltimate Chopin

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Long accents

b. 2-10

composition: Op. 10 No 3, Etude in E major

No mark in AI & A

Short accent in FE (→GE,EE)

Long accent suggested by the editors
..

The accent over the crotchet in bar 2 was added most probably by Chopin in a proofreading of FE (→GE,EE). Taking into account the fact that the engravers often did not understand the sign of the long accent and used to reproduce it as a casual accent or – often longer –  hairpins, in the main text we suggest a long accent, which in this context seems to be more appropriate. The same applies to bar 10. 

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 2

composition: Op. 50 No. 3, Mazurka in C♯ minor

Long accent in AF (→FE)

No mark in AI & GE

Short accent in EE
..

The missing accent in GE must be the engraver's or Chopin's inadvertence, since in all similar situations, the syncopated crotchet beginning a motif is provided with an accent.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , EE inaccuracies

b. 3

composition: Op. 24 No. 1, Mazurka in G minor

More probably a long accent in A

A short accent in GE

Inaccurate notation of FE

 in EE
..

It is not clear whether the accent written in A was meant to be a short one or a long one. GE (→FE) has a short accent here, and the inaccurate placement of that mark in FE brought about its erroneous interpretation in EE. However, a comparison with the analogous bars 11, 51 and 59 points to the long accent option as being more probable.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccuracies in FE , EE inaccuracies

b. 3

composition: Op. 10 No 2, Etude in A minor

No mark in FE (→GE,EE) 

Probable  in Ap

Possible long accent in Ap
..

It is not clear how to understand the signs shaped in the form of accents visible in Ap at the end of bars 3 and 4. Therefore, in both places we offer alternative interpretations. A similar problem appears in analogous bars 11-12, 38 and 39.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Long accents

b. 3

composition: Op. 10 No 6, Etude in E♭ minor

 in A (→FE→GE,EE)

Our suggestion
..

The sign at the beginning of bar 3 in A (→FE→GE,EE) may be considered as  hairpins, especially due to the fact that it is between the staves. However, a comparison with analogous bars 11 and 43 shows that we are probably dealing with an unfortunately placed long accent mark and this is the interpretation we suggest in the main text.  

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Long accents