mUltimate Chopin

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Sign reversal

b. 180

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

 in A

 in GE (→FE,EE,FESB)
..

It is difficult to say whether the change in the direction of the dynamic hairpin under the second two-note motif was introduced intentionally by Chopin or the reviser of GE1, or whether it is the result of an engraver's mistake. The lack of visible traces of changes in the print rather indicates an adjustment or – what the editors believe is most likely – an error. The engraver could have made the quite common "mirror" error by simply inverting the sign (cf. e.g. Nocturne in D Op. 27 No. 2, b. 6), or perceived this and the previous sign to be a pair  , very common in music in general, and in these Variations in particular. Therefore, we leave in the main text the only undoubtedly authentic version of A.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE , GE revisions , Sign reversal

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. 265

composition: Op. 2, Variations, complete

in A

in GE1 (→GE2)

 in FE1, EE & GE3

in FESB
..

The  hairpin is written in A between the staves and begins after the 1st R.H. chord (in Af the bottom arm starts as early as at the beginning of the bar). In GE (→FE,EE) the mark was moved to over the R.H. part, which, in this case, does not significantly influence its meaning. The change was most probably forced by lack of space between the staves; it cannot come from Chopin. The slight change of range in GE1 (→GE2) – the beginning of the mark was moved slightly to the right – was intensified by all subsequent editions, while FESB additionally reversed the direction of the mark, which is a frequent mistake in the first editions of Chopin's pieces. 

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE , Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccuracies in FE , Placement of markings , Scope of dynamic hairpins , GE revisions , EE inaccuracies , Sign reversal

b. 286

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

Long accent in A, contextual interpretation

 in A (literal reading→GE)

 in FE (→EE)
..

In A the sign is bigger than the majority of long accents, so it having been reproduced in GE as a  hairpin cannot be considered an inaccuracy. According to us, the context, however, definitely supports a long accent, which is in A in the corresponding bar of the exposition by the way (bar 138). The  sign in FE (→EE) is an example of a frequently appearing mistake, consisting in reversing the direction of a sign – cf. e.g. the Etude in C minor, Op. 10 No. 12, bar 53.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , Errors in FE , Sign reversal