mUltimate Chopin

WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Errors of JC

b. 72

composition: WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

b1 in JC

Tied b1 in EF & PE
..

In JC, lack of the  raising b1 into b1 in bar 72 is probably an error of the copyist, similarly as lack of tie holding this note. The natural in bar 73 is featured in all sources, yet we omit it in the places where the note is sustained (cf. General Editorial Principles, p. 3).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors of JC

b. 72-73

composition: WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

..

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors of JC

b. 74

composition: WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

d4 in JC, interpretation

Tied d4 in EF

d3 in PE
..

The pitch and possible hold of the 2nd quaver of the bar raise doubts in the sources. Both in JC and in PE, when read literally, the note is a non-sustained d3 quaver, whereas in EF – a d4 quaver held with a tie. In the case of JC, a total lack of the octave sign (embracing 7 quavers) is almost certainly a mistake. The situation is less obvious in PE, where the octave sign was not omitted, yet it starts only from demisemiquavers, while the tie is also absent in bar 70. This version, considered independently of the piece, would not raise any doubts, however, in the context of similar phrases in bars 62-63 and 70-71, it seems to be erroneous.

In the main text we give probably the only authentic version, written faultlessly in EF.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Errors of JC , Errors in PE

b. 74-75

composition: WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

..

In JC there is no octave sign in those bars. It is probably an error, which is revealed by the analogy with the shape of figurations in bars 70-71, as well as by an unequivocal oversight of the octave sign in bar 71.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Errors of JC

b. 76

composition: WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

..

JC has an erroneous tie in the L.H. on the first bar of the beat – there is only one tie written for the entire group.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Rhythmic errors , Errors of JC