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WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

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b. 17-18

composition: WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

Rhythmic notation in JC, interpretation

EF

PE
..

The notation of JC reflects the erroneous draft notation of [AI]. Formally, the notation of EF is correct, but lack of hold of the second f may be considered as an oversight in relation to the remaining sources (or perhaps as a revision – cf. bars 44-45). In the main text we give the more precise notation of [A] (→PE).

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Errors in Fontana's editions

b. 18

composition: WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

One voice in JC & EF

Two voices in PE
..

In the main text we give the more precise notation of PE.

category imprint: Differences between sources

b. 20

composition: WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

No minim in JC & EF

Minim in PE
..

Holding the bass note with the hand (the so-called harmonic legato), a ploy often used by Chopin, is marked only in PE.

category imprint: Differences between sources

b. 21-22

composition: WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

Notation of JC

GEF

FEF

PE
..

The sources differ in the details of the notation of "harmonic legato". In the previous version, the second semiquavers of the groups are extended to the value of a crotchet, except for the last group in bar 21, in which there is no relevant extension (see also the note related to bar 22). In the later version of PE, all those notes are dotted quavers. One could wonder whether Chopin changed here the performance (the second notes of each group were supposed to slightly overlap the next harmony in the previous version) or he just improved the notation, bearing in mind the same performance from the beginning (therefore, the original notation would be simpler, yet less precise).

In GEF there are no extensions in the 1st group in bar 21, which is a patent error (cf. analogous bar 48, in which the relevant extensions are marked).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in Fontana's editions

b. 22

composition: WN 17, Polonaise in B♭ major

Crotchet in JC & EF

Quaver and rest in PE
..

The chromatic, homogenous progression of syncopations in JC and EF was divided into two motifs in PE, according to the flow of harmonic tensions.

category imprint: Differences between sources