mUltimate Chopin

(Op. 4), Sonata in C minor, Mvt III

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b. 18

composition: (Op. 4), Sonata in C minor, Mvt III

Accent in A (literal reading→GE)

 in FE, EE & IE
..

The second dynamic mark between the staves is very short, as a result of which it can be considered an accent. This impression is enhanced by the position of the mark, directly over the 8th L.H. quaver, slightly lower than the preceding  mark. Nevertheless, both the shape of the main melodic line and the harmonic course indicate the need for diminuendo in the final part of the bar (starting from the 4th beat), hence in the main text we reproduce this mark as a  hairpin (cf. also the longer mark in the next bar, placed higher). In GE a mark of an accent length was placed at the same level as the preceding  mark, as a result of which the remaining editions do not include the misleading association with the 8th L.H. quaver.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: Scope of dynamic hairpins

b. 18

composition: (Op. 4), Sonata in C minor, Mvt III

No fingering in A (→GE→FE,IE)

Fingering in EE
..

In the main text we omit the inauthentic fingering added in EE.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions

b. 19

composition: (Op. 4), Sonata in C minor, Mvt III

f1 in chord in sources

f1, our alternative suggestion
..

The main text is a version of the sources interpreted literally. Our alternative suggestion presents another possible interpretation of this notation, assuming Chopin's oversight of the . Assuming a mistake in a place that does not contain any errors is justified by the following conditions:

  • the B minor chord enriches the harmonic sequence in bars 18-19 with a clearly new quality, while the b-d-f chord was already audible on the 4th quaver in bar 18, as well as – enriched with a tie to g – in bar 19;
  • leaving out an accidental in this kind of context is one of Chopin's most frequent mistakes (cf., e.g. bar 31).

category imprint: Editorial revisions

issues: Omissions to cancel alteration , Errors of A

b. 19

composition: (Op. 4), Sonata in C minor, Mvt III

Long accent in A

No mark in GE (→FE,EE,IE)
..

The missing long accent over b1 could be explained by an oversight; however, it is likely that the engraver wanted to make his work easier by considering the second diminuendo – after the mark between the staves – superfluous.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , Errors in GE

b. 20

composition: (Op. 4), Sonata in C minor, Mvt III

Slur in A (→GE→FE,EE,IE)

Longer slur suggested by the editors
..

The comparison with similar bar 37 reveals that the absence of the slur over the quavers in the middle part of the bar is almost certainly one of the numerous inaccuracies concerning A slurs. Therefore, in the main text we prolong the first slur to the 6th quaver (cf. the slurs in a similar situation in bar 36).

category imprint: Editorial revisions

issues: Inaccuracies in A