mUltimate Chopin

Op. 21, Concerto in F minor, Mvt I

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Issues : Uncertain notes on ledger lines

b. 109

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

No c1 in chord in A & FE (→EE1)

Chord with c1 in GE & EE2 (→EE3)
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GE has an additional note, c1, in the crotchet chord. The notation of A may be misleading here, yet Chopin's having deleted the note in the proofreading of FE (→EE1) is decisive. In EE2 (→EE3) the note was added under the influence of GE1.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in GE , Authentic corrections of FE , Uncertain notes on ledger lines , Inaccuracies in A

b. 174

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

Four-note chord in A

Three-note chord in GE (→FE→EE)
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The absence of the c1 note in the editions is certainly a result of an oversight of the engraver of GE1. Although in A the note is slightly less clear than e1, its presence is unquestionable. In similar contexts, Chopin would generally use an arpeggio of the full four-note chord, cf. e.g. the Concerto in E minor, Op. 11, 1st mov., bars 210, 219 and 570, the Ballade in G minor, Op. 23, bar 124, the Scherzo in B minor, Op. 31, bar 470.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE , Uncertain notes on ledger lines

b. 276

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

Quaver c1 in A & FE (→EE)

Crotchet c1 in GE
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A line pointing down next to ledger lines (most of the time the first bottom one, i.e. c1 or E – see e.g. the last E in bar 280), sometimes appearing in Chopin's autographs, misled here the engraver of GE. The additional stem is already absent in FE (→EE), which could have been, but did not have to, a result of Chopin's proofreading. However, one has to admit that in this case the extension of c1 is quite reasonable, as far as the harmony is concerned. 

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Authentic corrections of FE , Uncertain notes on ledger lines

b. 305

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

Crotchet c1 in A (literal reading→GE→FE→EE)

No crotchet in A (contextual interpretation)
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The alleged additional crotchet stem next to c1 visible in A is, according to us, an exceptionally imposing trace of Chopin's reflex at the time of writing notes on ledger lines. In order to secure visibility of such a note, the composer would give the note head the shape of a vertical line – see analogous note in bar 303. Sometimes, particularly when writing in haste (as in this case), the lines were long enough to look like a crotchet stem pointing downwards (a slightly shorter line in bar 301 did not mislead the engraver). See also the Etude in F major, Op. 10 No. 8, bars 4-7. 

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Uncertain notes on ledger lines , Inaccuracies in A