mUltimate Chopin

Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

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b. 239-243

composition: Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

Slur in EE

Slur in GC (→GE)

Slur in FE
..

In GC, the slur ending in bar 239 – the last bar on the page of that manuscript – allows for several possible interpretations. As the version of that source we give the one that is the closest to the literal reading of the text, i.e. slur reaching the end of that bar. This is how it was reproduced in GE. Other possible interpretations include: slur continuation into bar 240 (version of FE) and closing the slur on f in bar 239 (version of EE). For our main text we adopt the slur of FE, in line with the slurring of analogous phrases in bars 192-199 and 486-493.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GC

b. 241

composition: Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

B1 in EE, GC (→GE) & FE

B2-B1 proposed by the editors
..

Lacking in the sources is the bottom note of the L.H. octave, B2. As the scale of Chopin's piano only reached down to C1, the addition seems more than justified. Cf. bar 491.

category imprint: Editorial revisions; Source & stylistic information

issues: Constraint from piano range

b. 243-244

composition: Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

No indication in EE

leggiero in GC

leggiero in FE

leggiero in GE
..

In FE, the indication leggiero has the abbreviated form (leggier.) and precedes the beginning of the quaver passage. In EE it is missing altogether, which may reflect the notation of the hand-written base text or may simply be an oversight. For our main text we take the notation of GC (inaccurately reproduced in GE).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccuracies in FE

b. 243

composition: Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

 in GC

 in FE and GE

 in EE
..

The fact that  is placed differently in different sources probably results from graphic difficulties in recreating the notation of the manuscripts. For our main text we take the notation of GC.

category imprint: Differences between sources

b. 243

composition: Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

Beginning of the slur in EE

Slur in GC, contextual interpretation, and FE & GE
..

The slur is surely inaccurate in GC and most probably inaccurate in EE. Written with a bold strike of the pen, that slur had probably been present in the autograph. 

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GC