mUltimate Chopin

Op. 38, Ballade in F major

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b. 39-41

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

..

In the main text we add a cautionary  next to the e1 crotchet in bars 39 and 41. The first of these signs was already added in GE.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: GE revisions

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. 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

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