mUltimate Chopin

Op. 38, Ballade in F 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. 1

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

No title nor dedication in A

Ballade à [...] Schumann in GC (→GE) & FE

"La Gracieuse" 2de Ballade, title in EE
..

As in many other works by Chopin, EE arbitrarily changed the authentic title of the Ballade, calling it "La Gracieuse". It also omitted the dedication. Cf Nocturne Op. 27 No. 1.
The lack of title and dedication in A is presumably the result of the title page not being preserved. When writing the title page of GC, Chopin misspelled Schumann's name – "Schuhmann".

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Dedications , Various titles

b. 6-7

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

Slurs in A

Slurs in GC (→GE)

One slur in FE & EE
..

In GC (→GE) the breath in the slur was moved to the turn of bars 6 and 7, due to inaccurate notation of GC. The continuous slur in FE and EE is also most easily attributed to an inaccurate interpretation of A, although the coincidence of two editions is puzzling here.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in FE , EE inaccuracies , Inaccuracies in GC

b. 9

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

Dotted crotchet in A (→EE,GC→GE)

Crotchet in FE
..

The dot extending g1 was probably being erased in FE. According to us, it could have been related to moving it to the right place, as the mark of the sign is visible below the note head and not above it, as it should be according to the rules. As a result of a misunderstanding or forgetfulness, the dot was not printed at the correct pitch.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in FE , Partial corrections

b. 10

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

Dotted crotchet in FE, GE & EE

Crotchet without dot in A (→GC)
..

In A (→GC) the lack of a dot extending the f1 crotchet at the beginning of the bar is most probably an inaccuracy – cf. bar 18 and also e.g. 38 and 40. The dot was added in all first editions.

category imprint: Interpretations within context

issues: Inaccuracies in A

b. 10

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

Slurs in A, contextual interpretation

Slurs in GC

Slurs in FE & GE, literal reading of A

One slur in EE
..

There are many ways of interpretation of the inaccurately written slurs of A, e.g., such as it was interpreted in GC or in FE and GE. According to us, Chopin could have been thinking here about such slurs as can be seen in A in bar 18. Therefore, we adopt this version in the main text. The version of EE with a continuous slur is certainly erroneous..

category imprint: Differences between sources; Source & stylistic information

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , Inaccuracies in GC