mUltimate Chopin

Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Inaccuracies in GC

b. 154-155

composition: Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

..

In #KG, the tie sustaining a flat is only present in bar 155 (in a new line). This was probably the reason why GE1 did not have it at all. The error was corrected in GE2.

category imprint: Source & stylistic information

issues: Errors in GE , Inaccuracies in GC

b. 155-158

composition: Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

 in EE and FE

 in GC (→GE)
..

As is the case with the slur, the earlier beginning of the hairpin mark   in GC (→GE) is probably an inaccuracy of notation. 

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GC

b. 155-159

composition: Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

Beginning of the slur in FE

EE & GC (→GE)
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The earlier beginning of the slur in EE and GC (→GE) seems inaccurate, as the choral phrases of that part of the Scherzo always begin in the 2nd bar of a four-bar section, in this case in bar 156.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GC

b. 159-187

composition: Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

Slurs in EE & FE

Slurs in GC, possible contextual interpretation

Slurs in GE
..

In GC, the beginnings of slurs in bars 159, 167, 175 and 183 are clearly placed above the 1st beat of the bar. Such notation may have been intended by Chopin in order to underline the four-bar resounding of the chords ending each one of the choral phrases. However, another possibility is that the notation is simply inaccurate here - there are many places in GC with imprecisely written slurs (and this is how the matter was generally interpreted in GE). As the main text we give the slurring of EE and FE, free of errors or doubts, where the slurs begin on the 2nd beat  together with quaver figurations. The issue occurs in other similar fragments that begin in bars 203, 291, 307, 453, 497.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: GE revisions , Inaccuracies in GC

b. 159

composition: Op. 39, Scherzo in C♯ minor

Pedalling in EE & GC

No markings in GE1

 in GE2

Pedalling in FE

Our suggestion
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Lack of pedal marking in GE1 is an obvious error. GE2 has  under the octave in bar 159, which is also obviously wrong. In the editors' opinion, also the premature release of the pedal in EE and GC is erroneous – in other similar situations the pedal remains depressed for at least 4 bars. Our proposal corresponds to the placement of the  mark that is most often seen in analogous places.  

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: GE revisions , Inaccuracies in GC