mUltimate Chopin

Op. 38, Ballade in F major

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Slurs

b. 20-22

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

Slurs in A

Slur in GC (→GE), FE & EE
..

In all sources except for A, the slurs of the L.H. are not separated in these bars. Presumably, both the copyist and the engravers considered the gaps to be an inaccuracy of the slurs' links in A, especially that the slurs of the R.H. were actually extended in these places.

category imprint: Differences between sources

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

b. 30

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

Slurs in A, contextual interpretation

One slur in GC (→GE), FE & EE
..

The slurring of A is inaccurate here – the slur from previous bars ends on the crotchet in the middle of the bar, even though the next one that starts on the new page (in bar 31) suggests a continuation from the previous page. Both the copyist and the engravers interpreted this by merging both slurs in one. According to us, Chopin must have had in mind the same phrasing as in analogous bars 6 and 14, which means that he did not end the long slur from the previous bars too early but forgot to write the beginning of the slur at the end of bar 30.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , Uncertain slur continuation

b. 38-41

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

Slurs in A (→EE)

GC

FE

GE
..

Only EE recreated the notation of the slurs of A correctly. The version of FE, despite shortening the slurs, does not change the general idea of Chopin's phrasing. However, both the inaccurate slurs of GC and their arbitrary interpretation in GE distort the phrasing determined by Chopin.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccuracies in FE , Inaccuracies in GC

b. 40

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

Two slurs in A (probable interpretation→EE)

One slur in A (possible interpretation→FE,GC→GE)
..

Originally, a new slur started in A over the quaver F. Chopin later corrected slurring there but the result of the changes is not quite clear—EE read the correction as changing the place of division, while #CG (→GE) and FE as linking slurs. In the editors opinion both interpretations are justified:

  • an added fragment of line starting over the sharp, and suggesting a beginning of a new slur indicates that a broken slur was intended; such a slurring is in keeping with the R.H. phrasing and the analogous bar 38;
  • leaving the slur between F and F not deleted, and the way the preceding slur is prolonged speak for a continuous slur; this would reflect the maintaining of the hand's position.

We regard the former of the above interpretations as more likely, and give this version in the main text.

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

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , Errors resulting from corrections

b. 41-42

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

New slur in A & GE

No slur in GC

Continued slur in FE & EE
..

In A, a new slur starts undoubtedly in bar 42. However, this was not understood by FE and EE. The slur was overlooked in GC but was correctly added in GE.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in FE , GE revisions , EE inaccuracies , Errors of GC