mUltimate Chopin

Op. 24 No. 4, Mazurka in B♭ minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 29

composition: Op. 24 No. 4, Mazurka in B♭ minor

..

In A, the slur under the characteristic figure in the R.H. in this bar fails to include the last crotchet. A comparison with analogous bars 21-23 and 30-31 reveals a patent inaccuracy of the manuscript. Similar inaccuracies in less obvious situations often lead to difficulties with the interpretation  of slurs. 

category imprint: Source & stylistic information

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 40-42

composition: Op. 24 No. 4, Mazurka in B♭ minor

The slur in A and GE2 (→GE3)

The slur of GE1 (→FE→EE)

Slurs in FED

The editors' proposition
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In A, the notation of the beginning of the slur in bar 41 (the first one in a new line) suggests that the slur is carried over from the previous bar, yet no slur begins in the previous bar. The comparison with analogous bars also speaks in favour of beginning the slur from bar 41. Despite that, in GE1 (→FE→EE) the slur runs from the 3rd beat in bar 40. In FED, Chopin added a short slur linking two neighbouring measures in bars 40-41, although in FE they are embraced with a single slur. Our proposition takes into account the two slurs written in Chopin's hand in A and FED.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Annotations in teaching copies , Annotations in FED , Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 52

composition: Op. 24 No. 4, Mazurka in B♭ minor

The supplemented slurs of A 

The slur in GE (→FE→EE)
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The tie from bar 51 lacks an ending in the 2nd volta in A. In GE (→FE→EE) the tie for b flat1 in the 1st volta reaches that b flat1 in the 2nd volta. It is really astonishing that this nonsensical sign was not corrected in any of the first editions, even in the meticulously revised GE2 and GE3.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , Errors in GE

b. 59-60

composition: Op. 24 No. 4, Mazurka in B♭ minor

The slur of A (→GE→FE→EE) read literally
 
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It is not clear when the slur exactly begins in A. Taken literally as it is, it begins on the 3rd beat of bar 59, and this is how it was presented in GE (→FE→EE). Yet, a frequent manner of making the slurs too long in A justifies an opinion that Chopin could intend that slur to apply to bar 60 only.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 75-77

composition: Op. 24 No. 4, Mazurka in B♭ minor

A probable reading of the slurs of A

A possible reading of the slurs of A

Slurs in GE1 (→FE)

A slur in EE

A slur in GE2 (→GE3)

Our suggestion
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A has two R.H. slurs in those bars: one above the notes and the other, shorter one - under the notes (it is not clear whether the lower slur is to begin from the semiquaver or from the 2nd beat of the bar). The versions of GE1 (→FE) present the slurs of A inaccurately (the starting point) and erroneously (only one of the two slurs from bar 75 has an ending in bar 76 in a new line). In EE and GE2 (→GE3) the notation was streamlined, with a single slur left. In our opinion, the lower slur of A was written earlier and in the composer's intention it was replaced by the upper slur. Chopin failed to remove the earlier-written slur either accidently or wishing to avoid deletions and erasures that could affect the legibility of the manuscript.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccurate slurs in A , GE revisions