mUltimate Chopin

Op. 38, Ballade in F major

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : EE revisions

b. 46

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

A (→FE,GC→GE1)

EE, GE2 (→GE3)
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In EE and GE2 (→GE3) there are two "3"s over the repeated a1 crotchets in the R.H. We retain the spcript of A (→GC→GE1) and FE, which does not have to be erroneous (triplet of minims).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , GE revisions

b. 48

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

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In A (→GC,FE1→FE2) there are no accidentals before the upper notes of the last two sixths, g2 and b2. It is a typical inaccuracy of notation of Chopin, which does not result in any doubts in this context. Moreover, FE1 (→FE2) has no  raising b1 to b1. In FE3 both necessary naturals were added, the same notation also occurs in EE. Only GE has the correct text in this bar.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: EE revisions , Errors in FE , Accidentals in different octaves , GE revisions , FE revisions , Inaccuracies in A

b. 48

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

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A (→GC,FE) has no  before b in the 2nd half of the bar. However, the accidental is not necessary there because earlier b's in the R.H. part – with a  before the first of them – are placed on the lower staff. EE and GE which put the entire R.H. part on the upper staff added the appropriate accidental (as in our transcriptions).

category imprint: Source & stylistic information

issues: EE revisions , GE revisions

b. 50

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

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A (→GC,FE1→FE2) lacks naturals before b in the L.H. and b2 in the R.H., while  before b1 is written only on the 8th semiquaver (instead of the second). Those obvious imprecisions were corrected in other editions: in GE & EE all three necessary naturals were added (the  on the 8th semiquaver, superfluous after those corrections was only removed in EE), and in FE3 only the signs before b and b2.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Accidentals in different octaves , GE revisions , Omission of current key accidentals , FE revisions

b. 53-55

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

2 slurs in A (→FE,GC→GE)

Slur in bars 54-55 in EE
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The incomplete and different slurring in EE results most probably from inaccuracy and mistakes by the engraver. The two-bar slur in bars 54-55 (and a similar one in bar 56-57) is placed over a figurate passage that resembles a uniform, ascending-descending arpeggio, and encompasses  a half of line. It has not much in common either with the slurs in A, or with the real phrasing.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in EE