The precise interpretation of the slurs at the transition between bars 38-39 and 40-41 is difficult due to corrections and various inaccuracies of the notation:
- In A the slur from bar 38 ends above the slur beginning in bar 39, which we adopt as the most probable reading. However, many instances of slurs being too long in A (e.g. in bars 16-18 or bar 55) make us also consider the slurs of GE to be a legitimate reading of A.
- The lack of clarity in FE stems from the fact that the slur in bar 38 (the last bar in that line) indicates continuation that is not to be found in bar 39. In our opinion, this may simply be the inaccurate reproduction of the slurs of GE, as there are not any signs of corrections in that place. However, if we consider the slur in bar 38 to be reliable, we could imagine a continuation in the form of a single slur (as in EE) or two slurs (as in A).
- The end of the line is also the source of problems with the interpretation of the slur in bar 40 of A . We can see there that Chopin not only joined together the two initially written slurs in bars 39-40 but also prolonged the second one to the end of the bar, perhaps even intending it to reach bar 41. The fact that in FES the printed slur is prolonged indicates the latter possibility.
category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations
issues: Inaccuracies in GE, Inaccuracies in FE, Inaccurate slurs in A
notation: Slurs
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