mUltimate Chopin

WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Errors of JC

b. 15

composition: WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

No slurs in JC

Slurs in FEF

Ties in GEF

Slurs in PE

Slur in PE, no 'triplet' slurs
..

Lack of the slurs including each of the irregular semiquaver groups seems to be an error of JC. Generally, Chopin would provide such groups with a slur, most often together with a number determining the type of the group. Such slurs are most probably seen in FEF, while in GEF they have a form of ties sustaining the g1 crotchets. Also PE has here slurs which are a part of marking of irregular groups; however, due to the fact that Chopin additionally included the entire semiquaver figure under one slur, we omit the slurs in the main text (cf. General Editorial Principles, p. 16). 

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Triplet slurs , Errors of JC

b. 15

composition: WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

No lower voice in JC

Two voices in EF

Two voices in PE
..

Lack of the lower voice in JC is certainly the copyist's oversight. The way of subscribing the last notes in PE suggests a simultaneous strike of the e1-c2 sixth, which could correspond to Chopin's intention, as such an edition would faithfully render the notation of [A]. For such a rhythm of the lower voice could have been easily written as , we consider the notation of PE as inaccurate and we subscribe the notes according to their rhythmic values.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors of JC , Inaccuracies in PE

b. 17

composition: WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

..

At the beginning of the bar, JC includes the erroneous B1-A seventh. Similarly in bar 44, which is not written out in JC.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Errors of JC

b. 19

composition: WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

..

In JC there is no  in front of c3, which in the original notation, in which the octave sign begins already from this note, is an evident error. Similarly in bar 46, which is not written out in JC.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Cautionary accidentals , Errors of JC

b. 19

composition: WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

..

In JC there is no  lowering a3 into a3, which is a patent error; in the copy there is also no relevant sign before a2. PE is also missing a flat before the latter, which can correspond to the notation of [A], as Chopin often extended the validity of cautionary accidentals onto entire passages or scales of this kind.

The same applies to bar 46, marked in the sources as a repetition of bar 19. 

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Accidentals in different octaves , Omission of current key accidentals , Errors of JC , Inaccuracies in PE