mUltimate Chopin

Op. 38, Ballade in F major

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : EE revisions

b. 66

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

 in A (→GC)

in FE

in EE & GE
..

In EE and GE the  ends with the 2nd beat of bar 66. Perhaps the editors' revision was caused by the will to obtain an analogy with bar 64, in which cresc. actually embraces only the 2nd half of the bar.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccuracies in FE , Scope of dynamic hairpins

b. 68-69

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

..

In A (→GC,FE1→FE2) there are no accidentals before the last chord in bar 68 and in the entire bar 69. Moreover, in both previous FE there are no flats before two topmost notes of the chord at the beginning of bar 68 (d2 and e2). In FE3 the missing signs were completed, apart from the  lowering d2 to d2 in bar 68. GE and EE have the correct notation, yet only in EE there are all flats before the second chord in bar 69 (the rules of the signs validity with the use of an octave sign were not established).

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in FE , GE revisions , Omission of current key accidentals , FE revisions

b. 69

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

Three-note chord in A (→EE,GC→GE)

Octave in FE
..

The octave in FE is most probably a result of an oversight of the engraver of FE1, although the missing completion of the middle note in later proofreadings may be perplexing. It is even more puzzling considering the fact that both in FE2 and in FE3 corrections were made in this bar and on this stave – in FE2 it was the octave sign that was corrected, while FE3 added flats lowering e2(3) to e2(3) and a3 to a3. In spite of that, the most plausible explanation of the missing middle note in this octave is, according to us, an error, and sanctioning it supplements in FE3 constitute a strong argument for at least partial non-authenticity of the changes introduced in this edition.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in FE , GE revisions , FE revisions

b. 70

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

..

In A (→GC,FE1) there are no accidentals before the 4th chord. The overlooked  lowering a2 to a2 was also added in all remaining sources, while in FE2 (→FE3) a cautionary  before a3 was added as well. Both signs added in FE2 probably result from Chopin's proofreading. 

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Accidentals in different octaves , GE revisions , Cautionary accidentals , Omission of current key accidentals , Authentic corrections of FE , Inaccuracies in A

b. 71-72

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

2  in A

No  in GC(→GE) & FE

 in bar 71 in EE
..

Both  signs are written in A on the saff, what further hindered the legibility of the faint hairpins. As a result GC (→GE), FE overlooked them, and EE imprecisely reproduced the first sign only.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Source & stylistic information

issues: EE revisions , Inaccuracies in FE , Unclear hairpins in A , Inaccuracies in GC