mUltimate Chopin

Op. 38, Ballade in F major

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Articulation, Accents, Hairpins
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Articulation, Accents, Hairpins

b. 39

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

 in A (→FE,GC→GE)

Interpretation of A suggested by the editors

No sign in EE
..

It seems that Chopin changed the concept of dynamic markings in this and the next phrase – in A one can see in this bar a pair of   signs, out of which the first was then deleted. While writing analogous bar 40, the composer put there only the sign of a long accent over the chord in the middle of the bar. According to us, it means that the slightly longer sign in bar 38 should be interpreted in this way.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations; Source & stylistic information

issues: Long accents , Errors in EE , Corrections in A , Deletions in A

b. 40-41

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

 in A

 in GC (→GE)

No sign in FE

 in EE
..

Both the omission of the  sign in FE and its slight extension in GC (→GE) are undoubtedly of an accidental nature. However, the shorter hairpins in EE may be a result of the interpretation of the notation of A – Chopin would extend the initially written long accent and the result of these corrections is not entirely clear, as a part of the sign in bar 41 has the form of a single horizontal line. 

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE , Corrections in A , Errors resulting from corrections , EE inaccuracies , Inaccuracies in GC

b. 41

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

Arpeggio in A (→GC→GE)

No arpeggio in FE & EE
..

FE and EE overlook the arpeggio in the R.H.

category imprint: Interpretations within context

issues: Inaccuracies in FE , EE inaccuracies

b. 42-43

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

Long accent in A (→GC,FE)

Long accent in GE

Short accent in EE
..

The long accents in these bars were inaccurately reproduced in the editions – in FE both signs are moved to the right, while in EE the sign in bar 42 has the form of a short accent. Moreover, in GE and EE the sign was overlooked in bar 43.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Long accents

b. 47-49

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

Hairpins in A (→FE,GC→GE)

No signs in EE
..

In EE there are no  and  hairpins. It is certainly the engraver's oversight.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Errors in EE