mUltimate Chopin

Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

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Articulation, Accents, Hairpins

b. 596

composition: Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

No mark in EE

 in GC (literal reading)

Long accent in GC (contextual interpretation) & FE

 in GE
..

The meaning of the mark in GC in not obvious. At the first glance we have a full bar hairpin , which was interpreted as such by the engraver or revisor of GE and notated above the RH part as diminuendo must have seemed more reeasonable. However, the GC notation implies clearly that the mark does not apply solely to LH but the A1-A octave in particular, which also allows it to be seen as a long accent. FE confirms such interpretetation, where the ocatve is marked with a typical long accent.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , GE revisions

b. 597-602

composition: Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

 in EE

GC (→GE)

FE (contemporary notation)
..

The earlier beginning of the  mark in EE may have resulted from the manuscript's inadequate reading. Both versions of the hairpin endings, however, are as we believe authentic and musically corresponding. They both lead to the longest and harmonically relevant chords of the RH phrase. For the main text we adopt the longer hairpins of GC (→GE), as they correspond with the RH marks (the last crescendo in bars 602-603). The second  mark in FE should most certainly  be understood as continuation of the first. Such a notation is common in Chopin's works.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Hairpins denoting continuation

b. 597

composition: Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

No marks in EE

Dots in GC (→GE)

L.H. dot in FE
..

In the main text we adopt the exact GC (#→GE) notation. EE and FE may have resulted from inaccuracies in copying or engraving or may be a testimony to the many evolving stages of the authenticity of this bar's notation. 

category imprint: Differences between sources

b. 598-600

composition: Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

..

In FE the dynamic hairpin is placed above the RH part, which  may be a practical solution applied by the engraver. The  mark is split into two parts dues to the barline of b. 599.

category imprint: Source & stylistic information

issues: Hairpins denoting continuation

b. 601

composition: Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

Long accent in EE, contextual interpretation of GC (→GE) & FE

GC (→GE2), literal reading

FE, literal reading

No sign in GE1
..

Regradless of the differences in length and placement, the marks in all the sources (except GE1, where there is no mark) clearly fall on the minim on the second beat of the bar, which allows for seeing a long accent here - more or less precisely copied.

category imprint: Interpretations within context

issues: Long accents