mUltimate Chopin

Op. 30, Mazurka in D♭ major

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : GE revisions

b. 36

composition: Op. 30, Mazurka in D♭ major

..

In FC and FE the flats lowering c(1) to c(1) are missing. Chopin's patent mistake was corrected in GE and EE.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in FE , GE revisions , Omission of current key accidentals , Errors of FC

b. 39

composition: Op. 30, Mazurka in D♭ major

g2 in FC (→GE1) & FE (→EE)

g2 in GE2

Our variant suggestion
..

There are two main arguments supporting the hypothesis that Chopin could have committed a mistake by leaving the 1st note in the bar without a  resulting in 

g2:

  • analogy with the three previous phrases, in which the 1st R.H. note always (both in C and B) constitutes the interval of a major ninth with the bass;
  • Chopin's hesitation, quite frequent, as to the presence of the last accidental in the key signature, in this case the  to g. The fact that Chopin was uncertain whether it was g or g that required an accidental is proven by a  to g2, put twice, in bars 27 and 35. Therefore, if Chopin provided the g2 note with a flat, which was actually totally unnecessary, it is logical to assume that a respective note without a  is to be interpreted as g2.

Due to the above, in the main text we suggest a variant solution with affinity to g2.
A natural was added in GE2, probably on the basis of a comparison with bar 31.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: GE revisions , Omission of current key accidentals , Last key signature sign

b. 41

composition: Op. 30, Mazurka in D♭ major

b. legato in FC

b. legato in FC

ben legato in FE (→EE)

ben legato after FE (→EE)

legato in GE

legato in GE

ben legato suggested by the editors

ben legato suggested by the editors
..

The ben legato indication visible in FE (→EE) under the L.H. part is most probably a Chopinesque explanation of the vague abbreviation b. legato used in FC, which in GE – probably due to uncertainty as to its meaning – was replaced by legato. In the main text we move this indication – in the form used in FE – over the L.H. part, since it is particularly the two top voices in the chords that can be performed legato.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: GE revisions , Authentic corrections of FE , Inaccuracies in FC

b. 47

composition: Op. 30, Mazurka in D♭ major

..

In FC the naturals raising g to g in bar 47 and g2 to g2 in bar 48 are missing. The patent mistakes were corrected in GE; the correct text is also present in FE (→EE).

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Accidentals in different octaves , GE revisions , Omission of current key accidentals , Errors of FC

b. 48

composition: Op. 30, Mazurka in D♭ major

No mark in FC & FE (→EE)

Staccato dot in GE
..

In the main text we include the revision of GE, since an accidental oversight of a staccato dot in this bar seems almost certain, since it was already from bar 31 that Chopin started providing all bass notes held with pedal with dots – in FC or FE or in both (cf. bars 31-39, 49-53 and 55-56). As this rule naturally follows from the pianistic texture, the only exception in the form of the discussed bar is totally unjustified.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: GE revisions