mUltimate Chopin

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Issues : Errors of JC

b. 21

composition: WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

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The first note of the bar in JC is the erroneous e instead of f. Similarly in bar 48, which is not written out in JC.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Errors of JC

b. 23

composition: WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

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In JC, the third note counted from the bottom of the chord has a  on the level of c2, while its head is on the level of d2. This patent error could have been provoked by Chopin's way of writing the interval of second: due to their small size, note heads were put one over another, as in the case of bigger intervals. Similarly in bar 50, which is not written out in JC.

category imprint: Interpretations within context

issues: Errors of JC

b. 23

composition: WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

c3-c4 in JC (interpretation)

c3-c4 in PE; alternative interpretation of JC

c3-c3 in EF
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The version of JC seems to be erroneous, however, it is not clear how the notation of [AI] – probably ambiguous – was like and consequently, which elements of the notation of JC should be corrected. According to us, among the possible errors the most probable ones are the following two: lack of the  raising c4 into c4 or writing mistakenly a  instead of the  before the second grace note. We consider the first possibility as an interpretation of the copy's notation; the second one leads to the version of PE, adopted as the main text. The version of EF is probably a result of Fontana's revision, its correspondence to Chopin's intentions is highly unlikely.  

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Errors of JC

b. 23

composition: WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

Rhythm in JC, literal reading

Rhythm in EF, possible interpretation of JC

Rhythm in PE, other interpretation of JC
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In the main text we give the evident, faultlessly written rhythm of PE (together with the slur combining the final F with the chord in the next bar). The version of JC includes an error (7 quavers in a bar), however, it is not said that it must have been in [AI]. If this was the case, it has to be the rhythm of EF that would correspond to Chopin's intentions. However, if the rhythmic error had already been in [AI], the version of EF would have been only one of the attempts to guess Chopin's intentions. Therefore, the intended version of [AI] could be generally compatible with the text of PE – one should only correct the erroneous notation by adding a quaver flag to the last F (by the way, it would correspond to subscribing the note under the part of the R.H. in JC).

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Errors of JC

b. 25

composition: WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

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In JC, the 1st quaver in the L.H., F, was overseen. The definite error is revealed by the analogy with the motifs from the subsequent bars, lack of a relevant rest, compatible version of the remaining sources.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Errors of JC