Main text
Main text
A - Autograph
FE - French edition
FE1 - First French edition
FE2 - Corrected impression of FE1
FEJ - Jędrzejewicz copy
FES - Stirling copy
GE - German edition
GE1 - First German edition
GE2 - Revised impression of GE1
EE - English edition
EE1 - First English edition
EE2 - Corrected impression of EE1
compare
  b. 77-78

Slur broken in b. 78 in A & GE2

Slurs overlapping in b. 78

Slur broken before b. 78 in FE (→EE)

Continuous slur, our alternative suggestion

In the entire eight-bar theme that starts here (bars 77-84), the A slurs differ significantly from the FE slurs (→EE). In A Chopin wrote 8 slurs in total, out of which only two encompass more than one bar. By contrast, in FE there are only three slurs, encompassing 1, 3 and 4 bars, respectively. It is difficult to explain such a significant number of differences by inaccuracies and mistakes only, particularly since in the FE version the slurs in the first appearance of the theme are similar to the ones featured in the sources the second and the third times, that is continuous slurs. This would suggest that Chopin made changes to the slurs with such a goal in mind while correcting [FC]; however, it is not entirely certain. In the discussed place the slur is divided in A in a pianistically natural place, over a rest, contrary to the FE version, which could be an inaccuracy related to the transition to a new line (this would justify our alternative suggestion of a continuous slur). Therefore, in the main text we provide the A version, both here and in the entire eight-bar section. Consequently, the performer is presented with a varied and hence a more complete overview of the theme's phrasing. The version featuring four-bar slurs (based on FE) can be considered an equal variant.
The GE1 slurs must be inaccurate in the discussed place, which was corrected in GE2.

Compare the passage in the sources »

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: Inaccuracies in GE, GE revisions

notation: Slurs

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