mUltimate Chopin

Op. 38, Ballade in F major

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Issues : Errors resulting from corrections

b. 127

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

Crotchet g1 in A (→FE,EE)

Quaver g1 in GC (→GE)
..

As in analogous bar 102, the rhythm in the upper voice of the R.H. has two versions in the sources. In the main text we present the version of GC (→GE). This time the correction is inaccurate – Chopin added a quaver flag to the g1 note but   forgot the rest, as a result of which the bar in the upper voice has only 5 quavers. The obvious mistake was corrected in GE.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Errors resulting from corrections , GE revisions , Authentic corrections in GC

b. 132

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

e1 in A (→FE1,EE,GC→GE)

e1 in FE2 (→FE3)
..

It is also in this bar that we give the unambiguous version of A (→EE,GC→GE) in the main text, in spite of the fact that while proofreading FE2 (→FE3), Chopin added a  lowering e1 to e1. This version must be considered as authentic, yet not necessarily final – the composer, not seeing the following text in this line, could have heard here a harmonic progression analogous to the one in bars 101 and 126, therefore, in the previous phase of the phrase's development.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Errors resulting from corrections , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 151

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

No sign in A (→EE,GC→GE1)

in FE & GE2 (→GE3)
..

The lack of dynamic marking in A (→EE,GC→GE1) could result from distraction (or lack of space) connected with the correction. In FE and GE2 (→GE3) a  was added, most likely by analogy to bars 141, 143, 147 and 149.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors resulting from corrections , Authentic corrections of FE , FE revisions

b. 173

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

..

In GC (→GE) Chopin added cautionary naturals next to b2 in the R.H. and b in the L.H. Such a double addition virtually excludes the possibility of a mistake – it is about neither restoring d2 in the R.H. nor a cautionary  before the L.H. g1. The composer presumably forgot that a  from the key signature is no longer effective. In the main text we omit these accidentals, adding a cautionary  before g1 instead.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions; Corrections & alterations

issues: Errors resulting from corrections , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 184

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

No slur in A (→FE,EE)

Slur in GC (→GE)
..

The slur in GC (→GE) was almost certainly written by Chopin – cf. the analogous bar 180, where the corresponding slur occurs in all the sources. The omission of the slur in A was caused most likely by the deletions which forced Chopin to write most of this bar on an additional staff.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors resulting from corrections , Authentic corrections in GC