GC
Main text
GC - Gutmann's Copy
FE - French edition
FE1 - First French edition
FE2 - Second impression of FE
FE3 - Third impression of FE
FE4 - Fourth impression of FE
FESch - Scherbatoff Copy
FES - Stirling copy
FED - Dubois copy
GE - German edition
GE1 - First German edition
GE2 - Corrected impression of GE
EE - English edition
EE1 - First English edition
EE2 - Revised impression of EE
compare
  b. 7-9

Two slurs in GC (→GE)

No slurs in FE

Slur in FE based on bars 195-196

Our alternative suggestion

Slur in EE, literal reading

Slur in EE, possible interpretation

Determining Chopin's intention concerning the slurring of bar 8 (together with adjacent chords) encounters difficulties. Two sources based directly on [A] differ quite significantly and it is not clear whether and which differences can be considered to be inaccuracies of the copyist or the engraver:

  • GC features two slurs, which, being analogous to the slurs in bars 28-29, do not raise major doubts (comparing this fragment to its equivalent striving for F minor, one has to, however, be careful, as despite the same rhythm and accentuation, they differ quite significantly in terms of melody and texture, which could have influenced the slurring).
  • in the discussed place, FE does not contain slurs, which is most probably a mistake, as in bars 195-196, based on the same notation of [A], there is a slur. It suggests separating the three-note motif with repeated notes, whose echo we hear then one octave higher in bars 10-11 (the rhythmic scheme is used also in the subsequent bars). The difference of the range of this slur with respect to the first slur in GC may result from the imprecise notation of [A]. The absence of the slur over the next two chords may be considered to be an oversight of the engraver. One has to also take into account a possibility of Chopin correction of [A] after having prepared GC.
  • The slur of EE, added probably by Chopin in the base text to this edition, confirms beginning the slurring already from the last crotchet in bar 7 and embraces entire bar 8 with one slur. The place it reaches remains a matter of argument – we assume that only to the end of bar 8, yet it cannot be excluded that it reaches further, to the 1st chord in bar 9.

All the above described versions can be a representation of Chopin's intention. The most musically significant seems to be the issue of starting the first (relatively the only one) slur in bar 8 – a new phrase follows either after the motifs of the previous bars or overlaps with the last of them. The number and range of slurs in the subsequent part of bar 8 suggests different nuances of articulation of these chords, leading to G major, not influencing the perception of the important in the course of the Scherzo motifs. We consider the versions of GC (the main text) and two versions based on the reconstructed on the basis of the reprise slur of FE to be most reliable, as far as the sources are concerned, and pianistically natural.

Compare the passage in the sources »

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

issues: Errors in FE, Authentic corrections of EE

notation: Slurs

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