mUltimate Chopin

Op. 38, Ballade in F major

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Authentic corrections of FE

b. 161-164

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

Slur from 2nd octave in A (→GC→GE)

No slur in FE1

Slur from 1st octave in FE2 (→FE3) & EE
..

FE1 overlooked L.H. slurs in this bar and the two following ones. Chopin supplemented slurring with one slur encompassing bars 161-164 while proofreading FE2 (→FE3). That slur runs from the beginning of bar 161, contrary to A and similar bars 157 and 159. Hence, the engraver might have misplaced the beginning of slur inscribed by Chopin. The later beginning of slur may be regarded as an equivalent variant. The EE version results most likely from an inaccurate reading of A, despite its conformity to FE2.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 162

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

2 slurs (up to bar 163) in A (→GC→GE)

No slurs in FE1

2 slurs (up to bar 164) in EE

Continuous slur in FE2 (→FE3)
..

The continuousslur in FE2 (→FE3), reaching the minim in bar 164, results certainly from Chopin's correction, hence we give this version in the main text. However, it should be noted that Chopin did not changed the shorter slurs of A, and only differently supplemented the slurring overlooked in FE1. The version of A (→GC→GE) may be considered an equivalent variant. The EE version may be regarded as an alternative reading of the slurs in A.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 171

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

..

In FE1 the A-a octave was mistakenly written a major second too high. The error was corrected in FE2 (→FE3).

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 171

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

No slur in A (→FE1,EE)

Slur from 2nd semiquaver in GC (contextual interpretation)

Slur from 1st to last semiquaver in GC (possible interpretation→GE)

Slur from 1. semiquaver to next bar in FE2 (→FE3)
..

Based on the slurs added most probably by Chopin in GC and FE2 (→FE3), the absence of the slur in A is probably an oversight of the composer, perhaps related to the transition to a new page in A. However, the range of the slur is questionable:

  • The beginning of the slur is unclear in GC. The composer's corrections in A in bars 169-170 militate in favour of beginning the slur from the 1st semiquaver – Chopin would move beginnings of slurs from the 1st to the 2nd semiquaver in similar figures. According to us, the counterargument in the form of the slur of FE2 is of less importance, since the text in that edition is so dense that the engraver could have easily misinterpreted a Chopinesque proofreading entry.
  • The ending of the slur is also dubious – both in GC and FE, the discussed bar ends the page, and the slur, which suggests continuation, is either deprived of continuation in the next bar (FE) or starts from the 1st semiquaver (GC). We consider a continuous slur to be much more likely in such a homogeneous notation, and this is how we interpret both GC and FE2.

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

issues: Authentic corrections of FE , Authentic corrections in GC

b. 173

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

c1 in A (→FE1,EE,GC→GE1→GE2) 

a in FE2 (→FE3) & GE3
..

A (→FE1,EE,GC→GE1→GE2) has a c1-f1 fourth as the 2nd quaver. A comparison with analogous bar 169 points to a highly likely Chopin's error, which is proven by Chopin's proofreading of FE2 (→FE3). The correct version, most probably based on the mentioned analogy, was introduced also in GE3. 

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Terzverschreibung error , GE revisions , Errors of A , Authentic corrections of FE