mUltimate Chopin

Op. 21, Concerto in F minor, Mvt I

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Authentic corrections of FE

b. 241-246

composition: Op. 21, Concerto in F minor, Mvt I

poco - a - poco - cre - scen - do - in A

poco a poco cresc.  cresc. in GE1

poco - a - poco - cresc. - cresc. in FE

poco - a - poco - cre - scen - do in EE

poco a poco cresc.  cresc. - - in GE2
..

The poco a poco crescendo indication, carefully planned by Chopin over six bars in A, was reproduced in GE1 in a similar way, yet less logical and legible: dashes combining particular elements of the indication and showing its destination ( in bar 247) were overlooked and particular words were regrouped, by doubling the cresc. indication, which appears in bars 243 and 244. FE repeated the notation of GE1, adding – perhaps at Chopin's request – dashes between particular parts of the indication (in bars 241-244). The last notation was subject to further, seemingly logical changes in EE, as a result of which, however, the crescendo seems to be terminating in bar 244. The notation of GE2 is closest to Chopin's intention; it repeated the indications of GE1, yet adding dashes after the last cresc. until bar 247.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Inaccuracies in GE , GE revisions , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 242

composition: Op. 21, Concerto in F minor, Mvt I

..

The natural raising d2 to d2 appears in A (→GE→FE1) only before the 13th semiquaver. The mistake was corrected – most probably by Chopin – in the proofreading of FE2 (→EE). In the main text, we omit the  on the 13th semiquaver of the bar, superfluous in relation to the sign on the 4th semiquaver.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Omission of current key accidentals , Authentic corrections of FE , Inaccuracies in A

b. 248

composition: Op. 21, Concerto in F minor, Mvt I

Slur from a in A, FE (→EE) & GE2

Slur from d1 in GE1
..

A later beginning of the slur in GE1 is an evident inaccuracy (the engraver made his work easier by avoiding an atypical slur). A slur compliant with the course of music was introduced both in FE (→EE) and GE2. The correction in FE could have been ordered by Chopin, but it remains uncertain. 

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GE , GE revisions , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 252

composition: Op. 21, Concerto in F minor, Mvt I

Slur to b1 in A (→GE)

Slur to a1 in FE (→EE)
..

A Chopin proofreading of the end of the slur in FE (→EE) is uncertain. However, even if the version of FE is an inaccurate reproduction of GE1, the slurs can be considered a contextual interpretation of the slur of A, due to the continuity of the figurations of the R.H.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Authentic corrections of FE

b. 260-261

composition: Op. 21, Concerto in F minor, Mvt I

No slur in A (→GE)

Slur to end of bar in FE (→EE)

Slur to bar 261 suggested by the editors
..

The very fact of a slur having been added in the proofreading of FE (→EE) by Chopin does not raise doubts, yet its range seems to have been reproduced inaccurately. Therefore, in the main text we suggest a slur led to the beginning of bar 261, after the slur written with Chopin's hand in an analogous motif two bars earlier.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: Authentic corrections of FE