mUltimate Chopin

Op. 21, Concerto in F minor, Mvt I

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : EE inaccuracies

b. 109-110

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

Long accents in A (→GE→FE)

Short accents in EE
..

The long accents over the syncopated chords in the L.H. were reproduced quite accurately in the editions, except for EE.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , EE inaccuracies

b. 125-126

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

2 long accents in EE & GE2

Short & long accents in EE

2 short accents in GE2
..

The accents in A are clearly long and this is how they were reproduced in GE1 (→FE). The engraver of EE, who, as it seems, considered long accents to be diminuendo signs, shortened the first one, most probably being convinced that it is an accent. In GE2 a similar operation was performed on both signs.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , GE revisions , EE inaccuracies

b. 128-130

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

Slur with tenuto ending in A

2 whole-bar slurs in GE1 (→FE)

Whole- & half-bar slur in EE

Slur in GE2
..

In the main text we give the slur of A, marking the range of the phrase, with a characteristic ending indicating a necessity of an accurate hold of the last long note (slur-tenuto). Two whole-bar slurs of GE (→FE, repeated inaccurately in EE) deprived the Chopin slurring of all nuances. GE2 generally restored the Chopin slur (without the extended "tenuto" ending).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE , GE revisions , EE inaccuracies , Tenuto slurs

b. 130

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

Long R.H. accent in A (literal reading→GE→FE)

R.H. short accent in EE

L.H. long accent in A, interpretation suggested by the editors
..

The interpretation of the long accent written in A presents difficulties: the sign is written in such a way that it can refer either to the minim in the R.H. or to f1 in the L.H. (a similar problem appears in the recapitulation, bar 278). According to us, it is more likely that Chopin wanted to draw attention to the chromatic transition of the tenor voice: f1-f1-[e1]. Shortening the accent in EE is a typical inaccuracy of this edition.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , EE inaccuracies , Inaccuracies in A

b. 148

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

 on quaver f in A (→GE1→FE)

 on chord in EE & GE2
..

In A the  sign concerns the F quaver, which can be also deduced from the inaccurate notation of GE1 (→FE). However, in EE and GE2 the sign was moved towards the four-note chord so that it clearly changed its sense – delaying the moment of pressing pedal by one quaver deprives the chord of an audible bass note. 

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GE , EE inaccuracies