mUltimate Chopin

Op. 21, Concerto in F minor, Mvt I

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Authentic corrections of FE

b. 90

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

3 staccato dots in A & FE (→EE)

No marks in GE1

2 dots in GE2
..

The sophisticated articulation marking – legato in the top voice of the octaves and staccato in the bottom one – was only partially reproduced in GE1. In the proofreading of FE (→EE), Chopin restored staccato in the bottom voice. Two out of three dots were added also in GE2.

category imprint: Differences between sources

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

b. 98

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

No c2 in A & GE2

c2 in GE1

c2 tied in FE (→EE)
..

An additional c2 note could have been added by Chopin in the proofreading of GE1 (→FE→EE). The melodic line of the accompaniment, where the second quaver of each pair is higher than the previous dyad or chord, suggests that the note was probably to be sustained, which was then performed in the proofreading of FE (→EE). It cannot be excluded that the additional c2 was printed in GE1 by mistake and left unnecessarily after having added the correct note, a1 (a Terzverschreibung error). The tie of this note, added in the proofreading of FE (→EE) and eliminating its repetition, would be then a "simplified correction," which would happen in Chopin's works, e.g. in the Polonaise in C minor, Op. 40 No. 2, bar 125. GE2 restored the version of A.

In the main text we give the version of FE as intended or accepted by Chopin. The version of A may be considered an equal variant, whereas the version of GE1 is almost certainly erroneous. 

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE , Terzverschreibung error , GE revisions , Authentic corrections of FE , Authentic corrections of GE , Partial corrections

b. 104

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

3 different accents in A

2 short accents in GE1

3 short accents in FE & GE2

3 vertical accents in EE
..

In GE1 the second out of three accents was overlooked and the difference in their length was not taken into account. The overlooked accent was restored in the proofreading of FE (most probably by Chopin) and in GE2. The change of font of the accents in EE is a typical revision of this edition.

category imprint: Differences between sources

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

b. 105

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

No slur in A (→GE)

Slur in FE, literal reading

Slur in EE

Slur in FE, interpretation suggested by the editors
..

The slur under four quavers was undoubtedly added by Chopin in the proofreading of FE (→EE). However, the notation of FE does not clearly state whether the slur is actually supposed to concern the quavers of the top voice or of both; in other words, whether it is to start from the tied a quaver or from the e minim. In EE the slur was moved over the quavers, which, although graphically contrary to Chopin's notation, seems to be a skillful solution of this dilemma – the slur concerns the top voice, but it embraces the bottom one too. We suggest this solution as an alternative one in analogous bar 107.

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

issues: EE revisions , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 106-107

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

c1 tied in A & FE (→EE)

c1 repeated in GE
..

The visible in A, characteristic Chopin tie of c1 was overlooked in GE – the engraver may have considered it an extension of the motivic slur. Chopin corrected the mistake when proofreading FE (→EE).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE , Authentic corrections of FE