mUltimate Chopin

Op. 21, Concerto in F minor, Mvt I

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Inaccuracies in GE

b. 45

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

Slur over octaves in A

Whole-bar slur in GE (→FE→EE)
..

In the main text we hold to the notation of A, not including the schematically extended slur of the editions.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GE

b. 50

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

Dashes in A

 in GE (→FE→EE)
..

Omissions of dashes marking the range of a dynamic change is a typical inaccuracy of Chopin first editions. The  sign, added perhaps by Chopin in the proofreading of GE1, seems to be an ad hoc attempt to correct this inaccuracy, see the adjacent note. Due to this reason, in the main text we leave the notation of A.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GE

b. 51

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

 in A

 in GE (→FE→EE)

 suggested by the editors
..

The  indication is written in A on the border of the bottom stave (at the height of the motif in the L.H.), as a result of which in GE (→FE→EE) it was assigned to the L.H. and placed under the bottom stave. According to us, it does not correspond to Chopin's intention and  – in spite of a somewhat misleading placement – refers to the parts of both hands.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GE

b. 51-52

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

Slur in A

Slur in GE

Slur in FE (→EE)

Slur suggested by the editors
..

According to us, all source versions of the slurring of the motif beginning in bar 51 are inaccurate. The bar is the last on the page in A, which would often contribute to inaccuracies in the notation of slurs (cf. e.g. bars 31-35). Nothing indicates that moving the beginning of the slur in GE1 and FE could have been a result of Chopin's proofreading: the first does not influence the meaning of the sign, while the result of the second is a slur contrary to the authentic articulation and dynamic markings (staccato on the 1st chord in the bar and   ). Therefore, in the main text we suggest a slur that is present in all sources in an analogous situation in the next bar.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

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

b. 51-54

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

Long accents in A

Different accents in GE1

Short accents in FE (→EE) & GE2
..

Out of four long accents written in A, GE1 reproduced correctly only the first and third, which was unified in the remaining editions, by giving short accents only. It is a result of considering long accents either inaccurately written common accents or short diminuendoes. 

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccuracies in FE