mUltimate Chopin

Op. 42, Waltz in A♭ major

Text Compare Notes Sources Description
Select: 
Category
All
Graphic ambiguousness
Interpretations within context
Differences between sources
Editorial revisions
Corrections & alterations
Source & stylistic information
Notation
All
Pitch
Rhythm
Slurs
Articulation, Accents, Hairpins
Verbal indications
Pedalling
Fingering
Ornaments
Shorthand & other
Importance
All
Important
Main
Undo Clear

b. 141-142

composition: Op. 42, Waltz in A♭ major

Source version – B tied

Our alternative suggestion – B repeated
..

The fact of sustaining all components of the chord raises serious doubts. Lack of the strike at the beginning of the bar is an uncommon phenomenon in Chopin's Waltzes, as it is present only here. In a similar situation in the Mazurka in D major, Op. 33, No. 3, bars 8-9 and 24-25, in the first editions ties sustaining the bass note were added, contrary to the manuscript base texts. It cannot be excluded that in the Waltz in [A] also only 4 notes were sustained, while one – probably the bass B – was meant to be repeated. 

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Source & stylistic information

b. 149

composition: Op. 42, Waltz in A♭ major

 
 
..

In GE2 (→GE3) the c1 from the chord on the 2nd crotchet was arbitrarily removed, certainly in order to homogenise it with analogous bar 157. We preserve the varied sound in these bars in accordance with FE0 (→FE,EE,FEG→GE1).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: GE revisions

b. 152-165

composition: Op. 42, Waltz in A♭ major

Slur in FE0

Long slur in FE1

Four slurs in FEG (→GE1)

Four slurs in EE

Five slurs in GE2 (→GE3)
..

The slurring in bars 159-164 is clearly incomplete in FE0, which may be a result of Chopin's inaccuracies in [A], errors of the engraver or both. Chopin then changed and completed the slurs in FEG, the base text to EE and proofreading of FE1, yet in all of them differently. In total, it gives three different authentic slurring versions. In the main text we give the version written by Chopin's hand in FEG (→GE1), as in the case of FE and EE, there is a slight possibility that Chopin proofreading was overlaid with certain mistakes, manners or revisions of the engravers.
It is not entirely clear what the motivation of the reviser of GE2 (→GE3) was at the time of breaking the slur between bars 159 and 160. 

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: GE revisions , Authentic corrections of FE , Authentic corrections of GE , Authentic corrections of EE

b. 158

composition: Op. 42, Waltz in A♭ major

Arpeggio sign in FEG & FED

No sign in FE0 (→FE,EE) & GE
..

In FE0 (→FE,EE) there is no arpeggio sign. It was omitted also in GE, despite the fact that Chopin added it in FEG. Chopin's pencilled entry in FED confirms his intent to arpeggiate the chord.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Annotations in teaching copies , Annotations in FED , Errors in GE

b. 160

composition: Op. 42, Waltz in A♭ major

..

In FE0 (→FE,FEG) there are no naturals raising d1 to d1 on the 2nd crotchet in the L.H. and d2 to d2 in the R.H. It is undoubtedly Chopin's mistake  – cf.  in the next bar. The necessary signs were added in EE and GE, they were also added in pencil in FED (only before d1) and in FEJ (both).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Annotations in teaching copies , EE revisions , Errors in FE , Annotations in FED , GE revisions , Annotations in FEJ