mUltimate Chopin

Op. 42, Waltz in A♭ major

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b. 121-122

composition: Op. 42, Waltz in A♭ major

e1 tied in FE & EE

e1 repeated in GE
..

In GE1 (→GE2→GE3) the engraver undoubtedly overlooked the tie sustaining e1.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE

b. 139-140

composition: Op. 42, Waltz in A♭ major

Rest in FE

Tied sixth in GE & EE
..

The version of FE without the hold of the e-c1 sixth is earlier – in FEG (→GE) Chopin added the ties and a crotchet at the beginning of bar 140. An identical addition was most probably performed by him in the base text to EE. Due to this fact we adopt it to the main text. However, it should be mentioned that while proofreading the slurring of this phrase in FE1, Chopin ended the slur in bar 139 and did not add the hold of this sixth. Hence, the version of FE1 cannot be considered as definitely rejected. 

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Authentic corrections of GE , Authentic corrections of EE

b. 141-142

composition: Op. 42, Waltz in A♭ major

a in FE, EE & GE2 (→GE3)

 repeated in GE1
..

The version of GE1, which does not sustain a, is attractive from the musical point of view, as repetition of this note underlines the distinctiveness of the melodically active middle voice. However, it is most likely that the missing tie is most probably the engraver's oversight, corrected in GE2 (→GE3). Cf. the adjacent note.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE

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. 236

composition: Op. 42, Waltz in A♭ major

Crotchet in EE, possible interpretation of FE0 (→FE)

Quaver in GE—another interpretation of FE0 (→FEG)
..

In FE (→FEG) the 3rd chord in the L.H. is a crotchet, in spite of the fact that it is followed by a quaver rest. This patent error can be interpreted in two ways: 

  • the engraver inserted the rest by mistake instead of the bass clef (see also: the adjacent note);
  • the engraver could have overlooked both the stem of the quaver and the change of the clef.

As the L.H. has crotchets in similar situations in the Waltz, we consider the first possibility to be more plausible. 

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness

issues: Errors in FE , Errors in GE