mUltimate Chopin

Op. 21, Concerto in F minor, Mvt I

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Authentic corrections of FE

b. 156-158

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

1 slur in A

2 slurs in GE1

1 slur in FE (→EE)

2 slurs in GE2
..

In the main text, we give the slurs in the L.H. in bars 156 and 158 after A. The half-bar slurs of GE1 (spanning 4 and 3 quavers) are a characteristic arbitrary decision of this edition. In the proofreading of FE (→EE), Chopin combined the slurs within the bars, leaving – as probably less striking – an inaccurately marked starting point of the slurs. GE2 corrected the starting point after A, but not the divisions. 

category imprint: Differences between sources

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

b. 165-168

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

c2 & c2 in A (→GE)

d2 & b1 in FE (→EE)
..

The version of FE (→EE), fully analogous with the corresponding fragment of the recapitulation (bars 315-318), was introduced by Chopin in the proofreading of FE1. Both versions are, according to us, musically equal, yet showing respect for Chopin's decision, in the main text we give the later, proofread version. The reason for the change could have been pianistic convenience – following the proofreading, the number of differences between the subsequent appearances of similar two-bar phrases in bars 165-166, 167-168, 315-316 and 317-318 was significantly reduced.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Authentic corrections of FE

b. 169-170

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

..

The flats restoring e at the beginning of the 2nd half of the bar are missing in both bars in A (→GE). The mistake was corrected in FE (→EE), probably at Chopin's demand. Similarly in analogous bars 319-320.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Omissions to cancel alteration , Errors in GE , Errors of A , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 171

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

End of slur in A (→GE)

End of slur in FE (→EE)
..

The longer slur in FE (→EE) is a result of a proofreading – one can see traces of deletion of the slur repeated from GE1. This kind of change to FE could have been introduced only by Chopin.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Authentic corrections of FE

b. 172

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

Wedge in A

No mark in GE1

Dot in FE (→EE) & GE2
..

The distinct wedge over the 1st chord written in A was overlooked in GE1. When proofreading FE (→EE), Chopin restored the staccato sign, yet this time in the form of a dot. The version, being the latest, should be adopted in the main text, if it were not for doubts whether the sign written by Chopin was reproduced correctly. Errors in interpretation of Chopin wedges would be very frequent in first editions – cf. e.g. the Etude in E major, Op. 10 No. 11, bars 2-14 or 16-23. Therefore, we leave the wedge as the undoubtedly authentic and generally compliant with the nature of the Chopin proofreading, whose main objective was to restore the overlooked staccato sign.
GE2 added a dot here, same as in the previous bar. 

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

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