mUltimate Chopin

Op. 35, Sonata in B♭ minor, Mvt II

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Inaccuracies in GC

b. 4

composition: Op. 35, Sonata in B♭ minor, Mvt II

..

FE (except for FE4) lacks in five necessary accidentals – naturals before d2 and b and sharps before f, f2 and g2. This patent inaccuracy certainly has its source in the notation of [A]. Similarly in GC, in which, however, Chopin added a  raising b to b. In GC (→GE) there are also no naturals before the last octave in the R.H. – it can be an oversight of the copyist or a later addition in [A]. In the remaining sources the signs were completed (all additions can be attributed to a revision): three were added in EE1 and FE4, four in GE; only EE2 includes the correct notation. Cf. bar 24.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Accidentals in different octaves , Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccuracies in FE , GE revisions , Omission of current key accidentals , FE revisions , Inaccuracies in GC , Authentic corrections in GC

b. 13-14

composition: Op. 35, Sonata in B♭ minor, Mvt II

One pedal in GC

Two pedals in FE (→EE)

 sign in GE

Our variant suggestion
..

In some of the sources – GC and GE – the pedalling of these bars is written clearly inaccurately, as holding the pedal beginning on the 2nd beat of bar 13 longer than one crotchet leads to an unjustified mix of harmonies, as far as the sound is concerned. The difference between the sources based directly on [A] – GC and FE – is most easily explained with an oversight of the copyist, although other explanations are also possible. On the other hand, the unnecessarily complex pedalling of FE (→EE) in a faster tempo, without an audible error, may also not entirely reflect Chopin's intention – cf. similar bars 32-34. Therefore, in the main text we suggest a variant solution, leaving a possible use of pedal on the 2nd beat of bar 13 at the discretion of the perfomer.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE , Inaccuracies in GC

b. 17-21

composition: Op. 35, Sonata in B♭ minor, Mvt II

Slur up to bar 21 in GC

No slur in FE1

Slur in bars 17-20 in FE2 (→EE,FE3→FE4) & GE
..

No slur in FE1 is undoubtedly an oversight of the engraver, corrected – certainly on the basis of [A] – in FE2. However, it is not entirely clear what the range of the slur intended by Chopin was, as the sources based on [A] seem to convey different versions and both the copyist and the engraver of FE did not always faithfully reproduce Chopin's notation. In addition, the slur of GC, despite the fact that it clearly reaches the beginning of bar 21, cannot be considered to be unambiguous – the beginning of the slur also exceeds the bar line, which cannot mean its starting in bar 16. It is the recapitulation that comes to help (bars 205-209), in which the engraver of FE1, looking at the same place of [A], interpreted the slur differently than for the first time, yet in accordance with the more likely, literal interpretation of GC. Due to this fact, in the main text we give the slur reaching until E1-E. See also bars 61-65.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE , FE revisions , Inaccuracies in GC

b. 24

composition: Op. 35, Sonata in B♭ minor, Mvt II

..

In GC and FE (except for FE4) five necessary accidentals are missing – the naturals before d1, d2 and b and sharps before f2 and g2. This patent inaccuracy certainly stems from the notation of [A]. Three of them were added in EE1, four in FE4; only GE and EE2 include the correct notation.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Accidentals in different octaves , Inaccuracies in FE , GE revisions , EE inaccuracies , FE revisions , Inaccuracies in GC

b. 25

composition: Op. 35, Sonata in B♭ minor, Mvt II

..

The naturals before the 3rd octave of the bar are only in EE, FE4 and GE2. Chopin's patent inaccuracy was completed by revisers in probably all cases (certainly in GE2).

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccuracies in FE , GE revisions , Omission of current key accidentals , FE revisions , Inaccuracies in GC