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WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

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b. 15

composition: WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

e in JC

e in EF

f in PE

 f according to PE
..

The e note, which is present both in JC and in EF, is probably the bass note of the earlier version of this chord, while the f note, visible in PE – of the later one. However, it cannot be excluded that one of those versions is a result of an erroneous reading of the autograph. According to us, it is much more probable in relation to e. In EF, the note (e) is held with a tie until the e in the next chord.

In the main text we give f, provided with a cautionary natural. 

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

b. 15

composition: WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

Chord without c1 in JC & EF

Chord with c1 in PE
..

From the harmonic point of view, the four-note chord in PE is absolutely possible. However, the natural character of voice-leading in the triad version of JC and EF encourages to suppose that the version of PE may be erroneous. The engraver of PE could have taken an accidental ink spill on the intersection of the stem and ledger line for a note. The half correction also offers food for thought: adding the right note without deleting the wrong one. Such situations can often be found in Chopin's prints, which stems from the fact that adding a new note head was technically much easier than deleting the old one. In this case, it is c1 which was mistakenly left (cf. bar 65). For those reasons, in the main text we adopt the chord without c1. 

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in PE , Partial corrections

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. 16

composition: WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

d1-b1 in JC & EF

d1-d2 in PE

d1-b1, our suggestion
..

PE features d2 as the upper note of the crotchet at the beginning of the bar. According to us, it is the so called Terzverschreibung, as using an incomplete chord in a typical cadenza formula ending an eight-bar section is very unlikely. Therefore, in the main text we give b1 which is present in JC and EF. We provide the note with a cautionary .   

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: Terzverschreibung error , Errors in PE

b. 16

composition: WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

..

JC has a cautionary  before the lower note of the chord, e1. Similarly in bar 43, which is not written out in this manuscript.

category imprint: Source & stylistic information

issues: Cautionary accidentals