Issues : Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 4-5

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

Slur in A (literal reading)

Slur in A (interpretation→GEFE)

Possible reading of slurs in FE (→EE)

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Strictly speaking, the slurs in A may be read in two different ways. The interpretation of GE adopted in the main text underlines both the continuity of the musical thought from the beginning of the work and the moment when the actual theme begins. The same idea was probably behind the imprecise notation of FE, yet it was interpreted differently in EE.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in FE , Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 5-6

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

The slur end in  A (→GEFEEE)

The editors' proposition

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The slur in A finally trails off shortly after the minim d flat2, yet we clearly see that Chopin ran out of ink, which suggests that the slur was meant to reach slightly further. This guess finds confirmation in longer slurs in the analogous bars 8 and 10. We resolve the question of whether those slurs reach the semiquaver or extend to the crotchet on the 2nd beat of the bar in favour of the latter option, as those slurs are actually more phrase marks than articulation slurs. 

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 9-10

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

The slur A (interpretation in context)

The slur of GE (→FEEE)

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When read literally, the slur of A  ends over the semiquaver f2. In our opinion, the phrasing aspect of that slur is an argument that points to its inaccurate notation. For our main text we assume the slur reaching the 2nd beat of bar 10, as Chopin clearly wrote two bars earlier. In GE (→FEEE) the slur ends even earlier, which is surely not implied by the notation of A.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 12

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

A probable reading of the slur of A

 
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It is not clear whether Chopin intended the slur in A to apply only to the upper notes of the octaves or to reach further. In GE (→FEEE), that second option was adopted, and the slur extended to the last quaver. Both versions may be considered as matching the notation of A. The slur for the upper notes only emphasizes the (hidden) two-part aspect , while the whole-bar slur link the end of the previous phrase with the transition to the next one.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 18-19

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

Possible reading of the slur of A (→GEFEEE)

Possible reading of the slur of A (→GEFEEE)

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The slur of A may be read in two ways that are practically equal in validity. In GE (→FEEE) the version with a shorter slur was assumed. Cf. bars 50-51 and 112-113.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A