mUltimate Chopin

Op. 21, Concerto in F minor, Mvt I

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : EE revisions

b. 268-269

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

Slur to g in A (literal reading)

Slur to f in A, contextual interpretation

Slurs only in bar 268 in GE (→FE)

Slurs to bar 269 in EE
..

When interpreted literally, the slur of A ends still in bar 268. According to us, the notation, however, does not exclude an intention of leading it to the last note of the phrase in the next bar. We suggest this interpretation, compliant with the phrase's structure, in the main text. Doubled slurs in the L.H. in the editions – see the note to bar 267.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Inaccurate slurs in A , GE revisions

b. 271-272

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

Slur in A

Slurs in GE1

Slurs in FE

Slurs in EE

Slurs in GE2
..

Over the part of the R.H. (in some editions under), apart from the top, several-bar-long slur, the sources include one or two additional slurs of varied range. According to us, it is most probably only the slur of A that is authentic, hence we give it in the main text. The absence of visible traces of corrections of slurs in GE1 makes a possible Chopin proofreading highly unlikely, whereas the subsequent minor changes of the range of the first slur, of inaccurate (FE) or revisional (EE and GE2) nature and actually without impact on the performance, cannot be authentic.

category imprint: Differences between sources

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

b. 272

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

Arpeggio sign, grace notes & accent in A & GE2

Grace notes & arpeggio sign in GE1

Arpeggio sign & grace notes in FE

Arpeggio sign & grace notes in EE

Arpeggio sign, grace notes & accent suggested by the editors
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The arpeggio with grace notes is written in A in a legible manner, offering a clear image of the order in which the particular notes are to be performed – d1-f1-g1-b1-a1. Unfortunately, the notation cannot be reproduced in print without considerably deforming the spaces between the notes, since the printed note heads are much wider than in Chopin's writing. However, the solution adopted in GE1 is misleading – it suggests a g1-b1-d1-f1-a1 order. It provoked Chopin's proofreading in FE (→EE), as a result of which it is much easier to guess the correct performance. We give the latter, more graphically convenient than the version of A, in the main text.

Apart from the proofreading of the ornaments' notation, in FE (→EE) the division into voices of this chord was also changed – f1, which in A (→GE) is a crotchet of the bottom voice, was assigned in FE to the top one, which shortened its value to a quaver. The difference, although subtle, could have been intended by Chopin, hence in the main text we also give this detail in the version of FE. The note, already as a quaver, was then extended in EE by adding a dot. According to us, also this version, although formally not coming from Chopin, can be a notation of his intention, actually the most precise one.

The missing accent in GE1 (→FE→EE) must be an oversight. 

category imprint: Differences between sources

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

b. 272

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

..

The middle note of the arpeggiated chord, f1, is a crotchet of the bottom voice in A (→GE). In FE it was assigned to the top one, which shortened its value to a quaver – it is probably a result of Chopin's proofreading. In EE, an extending dot was added to the quaver adopted from FE. 

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 273

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

..

The cautionary flat before b2 is present in A (→GE), yet it was overlooked in FE (already at the stage of the text's planning – no place for the sign was provided). It was readded in EE.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in FE , Cautionary accidentals