Issues : Corrected slurs of Op. 21 in GE1
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b. 12-13
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composition: Op. 21, Concerto in F minor, Mvt I
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The slur written in A stayed in GE (→FE→EE) next to note heads, which perhaps may have induced Chopin to add a second slur, embracing also the preceding crotchet. According to us, the slur was probably supposed to replace the previous one. A probability of Chopin's proofreading is also indicated by a possible trace of correcting the previous slur in bar 12. However, not being certain of the authorship of these changes, in the main text we leave the version of A. category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources issues: GE revisions , Authentic corrections of GE , Corrected slurs of Op. 21 in GE1 |
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b. 31-35
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composition: Op. 21, Concerto in F minor, Mvt I
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The slurring of A is inaccurate at the transition between the pages: the slur at the end of the page (bar 32) suggests a continuation, yet there is not any ending on a new page (bar 33). To make matters worse, the next slur, beginning from the syncopated b category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources issues: Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccurate slurs in A , GE revisions , Corrected slurs of Op. 21 in GE1 |
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b. 88-89
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composition: Op. 21, Concerto in F minor, Mvt I
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The first slur in the R.H. would reach in this bar to the very beginning of the next one, which was clearly crossed out by Chopin in A. The slurs of GE (→FE→EE), eventually compliant with the corrected slurs of A, were initially different – there was no division of the slur in bar 88 – which is indicated by visible traces of corrections. category imprint: Corrections & alterations; Source & stylistic information |
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b. 100-101
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composition: Op. 21, Concerto in F minor, Mvt I
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Bar 100 is the last one on the page of A and, as it often happens, the slurs at the transition between the pages are written inaccurately. The slur in bar 100 reaches far beyond the notes, suggesting its continuation, yet in bar 101 there is no possible ending of this slur. Therefore, the versions of the editions in which the slur ends together with the last note in bar 100 may be considered to be justified. However, the logic of the musical course suggests that it is the missing ending of the slur in bar 101 that is inaccurate and not the overextended ending of the slur in bar 100 – cf. e.g. an analogous situations 4 bars further. Starting the slur in bar 101 from the beginning of the bar is a typical inaccuracy of GE1 (→FE→EE), corrected in GE2. (The slur of GE1 bears traces of corrections in print – one can see it was initially divided into a few parts. However, it does not mean that Chopin wanted to move the beginning of the slur – the aim of the proofreading was undoubtedly to combine the illogical fragments.) category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources issues: Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccurate slurs in A , GE revisions , Corrected slurs of Op. 21 in GE1 |
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b. 119-122
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composition: Op. 21, Concerto in F minor, Mvt I
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The interpretation of the slurring of A in these bars, supported by the rhythmic notation (separated semiquavers in bar 120 and minims in bars 121-122), is beyond any doubt. However, at an attempt to interpret the slurs literally, they can seem to be misleading – both separated semiquavers in bar 120 seem to be at the same time the last and first notes of subsequent slurs; the phenomenon is even clearer in bars 121-122. Admittedly, in GE1 the slurs were reproduced correctly, in accordance with the musical sense, yet it is already a result of an intense proofreading – in the entire line of GE1, spanning bars 119-121, one can see traces of correction of slurs, probably more than once (in bar 120 traces indicate deletion of two slurs of a different, yet partially overlapping range). Two phases of proofreading, out of which the first did not yield satisfactory results, may suggest that Chopin, having seen a great number of errors, ordered to perform the proofreading after A in the first phase and it was only in the second phase that he personally marked the still remaining, substantial inaccuracies. category imprint: Corrections & alterations; Source & stylistic information issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , Corrected slurs of Op. 21 in GE1 |
1 note, is written with great flourish, which probably convinced the engraver of 
