mUltimate Chopin

Op. 21, Concerto in F minor, Mvt I

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Slurs

b. 179-180

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

Tie in A, possible reading

Slur in A (probable reading→GE→FE→EE)
..

The slur, written in A at the transition between the bars, is unclear, as far as its range and meaning are concerned. Its length makes it resemble Chopin ties, whereas its shape – phrase marks. Since, when considering the pedalling, sustaining f2 gives the same sound effect as omitting the note, and it may be more difficult to perform, we assume – in accordance with all editions – that Chopin meant a phrase mark.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , GE revisions

b. 185

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

Long accent under L.H. in A

Accents on 2nd & 3rd R.H. quaver in GE1 (→FE)

Accents on 1st & 3rd R.H. quaver in EE

Short L.H. accent in GE2
..

In the main text we give the notation of A, the only authentic according to us. The versions of editions are a sequence of cumulative mistakes, inaccuracies, misinterpretations and arbitrary changes:

  • the most plausible explanation of the additional accent in GE1 is an unfinished proofreading – the erroneously printed accent on the 3rd quaver was left in spite of adding the correct sign on the 2nd quaver (see also the note on rhythm in this place). Moreover, both signs were printed too high, so that they seem to apply rather to the R.H., contrary to Chopin's intention, who wrote the accent in A under the crotchet in the L.H.;
  • in FE both accents already clearly apply to the R.H.; the first one was placed inaccurately, between the 1st and 2nd quavers;
  • EE added its portion of inaccuracies and arbitrary decisions, as a result of which, instead of the long accent on the 2nd quaver in the L.H., as it is in A, the edition gives two vertical accents, over the 1st and 3rd quavers in the R.H.;

GE2 generally restored the notation of A.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , EE revisions , Inaccuracies in FE , Errors in GE , GE revisions , EE inaccuracies , Partial corrections

b. 186

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

No marks in sources

Accents suggested by the editors
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It seems to be likely that the missing accents in the L.H. are Chopin's inadvertence – cf. accents in the previous bar.

category imprint: Editorial revisions

b. 188-189

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

Slur in A

2 slurs in GE (→FE→EE)
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The slur of A was indeed written with two moves, yet interpreting it as two slurs is, according to us, an unnecessary complication, incompatible with Chopin's intention. It may be that GE1 initially printed only one of the slurs, so that adding a second was a correction of a patent mistake – cf. bars 190-192.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GE

b. 190-192

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

Slur in bars 190-191 in A & GE2

Slur in bar 191 in GE1 (→FE→EE)

Slur in bars. 190-192 suggested by the editors
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According to us, ending the slur on the last crotchet in bar 191 is an inaccuracy of the notation of A – cf. the longer slur in the L.H. as well as the slur over a similar phrase in bars 188-190. Starting the slur in GE1 (→FE→EE) only from bar 191 is an example of a characteristic manner of the engraver of GE1. See also bars 192-194. 

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

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