Issues : Errors resulting from corrections

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,GCGE)

..

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. 53

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

R.H. part in A (→FE,EE)

GC (→GE1GE2)

..

In A the original beginning of the bar was the following:

Chopin changed it then to the version offered by FE and EE:

The above correction was also included in GC, however, in this copy Chopin himself changed this place one more time; the new version was printed on this basis in GE1 (→GE2). We consider this version as definitive with one reservation:  we add a  lowering e2 to e2, overlooked during the correction. The addition, not so obvious without knowledge of previous Chopin's corrections, was introduced only in GE3.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

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

b. 55

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

Literal reading of A (→GC,FE1) – notes e

Notes e in FE2 (→FE3), EE & GE, contextual interpretation of A (→GC,FE1)

..

In A (→GC,FE1) there are no accidentals in this bar. The e notes, present in two previous bars and in a few subsequent ones, including in analogous bar 57, indicate here Chopin's omission of the flats lowering e to e, which is one of the most frequent errors he was known to commit. The conclusion is confirmed by the addition of a  lowering eto e3 in FE2 (→FE3). Two remaining necessary flats in this bar were added in FE3, yet one of them was misplaced before the upper note of the third, so it lowers g2 to g2 (the error is corrected by a pencilled entry in FED, cf. also bar 57). In GE and EE all three necessary flats were added.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Annotations in teaching copies , EE revisions , Errors in FE , Annotations in FED , Errors resulting from corrections , Terzverschreibung error , GE revisions , Omission of current key accidentals , FE revisions

b. 69-70

composition: Op. 38, Ballade in F major

Slur in A & FE2 (→FE3)

No slur in FE1

Slur in GC (→GE) & EE

..

In FE1 there is no slur in the L.H., which was corrected in FE2 (→FE3).
In GC (→GE) and EE the slur is dragged to the first quaver in the next bar. The copyist and the engraver of EE could have been misled by a non-deleted trace of the original version of the  sign.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Errors in FE , Errors resulting from corrections , EE inaccuracies , Authentic corrections of FE , Inaccuracies in GC