mUltimate Chopin

Op. 21, Concerto in F minor, Mvt III

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Corrected slurs of Op. 21 in GE1

b. 126-127

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

1 slur in A & GE2

2 slurs in GE1 (→FE→EE)
..

Breaking the slur between these bars is a characteristic inaccuracy of the engraver of GE1 (after all, the two-bar slur in bars 125-126 is already a result of proofreading – the remaining elements of original slurs show that each of these bars was most probably embraced with a separate slur). The continuous, four-bar slur written in A was restored in GE2. See also bars 128-129.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE , GE revisions , Corrected slurs of Op. 21 in GE1

b. 199-201

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

Slur to g1 in A (contextual interpretation) & GE2

Slur to a1 in GE1 (→FE→EE)
..

In A bar 199 is the last one on the page, which contributed to the fact that the range of the slur in the L.H. is vague – the slur started in this bar suggests continuation, yet there is no ending thereof on the next page. The inaccuracy was corrected in GE1 (→FE→EE), perhaps at Chopin's request; however, it is questionable that he would be thinking about a slur that would not embrace the last note of this scale passage (cf. the slurs in the R.H. in this place). Due to this fact, it is the slur led to the beginning of bar 201, in accordance with GE2, that we adopt to the main text.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , GE revisions , Authentic corrections of GE , Corrected slurs of Op. 21 in GE1

b. 228-229

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

New slur from bar 229 in A

Continuous slur in GE

New slur from bar 232 in FE (→EE)
..

According to us, a new slur starts in bar 229 in A, although the previous one ends very close to its beginning. However, the combined slurs in GE (→FE→EE) are not a result of an inaccurate interpretation of A, but of proofreading, probably a Chopin one. Nevertheless, the visible traces of corrections suggest that the composer corrected other, erroneous slurs, and not the version of A. Due to this reason, in the main text we give a musically unquestionable division of the slur written in A.
The division of the slur between bars 231 and 232, as it is in FE (→EE), is certainly an inaccuracy, related to the transition into a new line.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Authentic corrections of GE , Corrected slurs of Op. 21 in GE1

b. 236-237

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

Continuous slur in A (→GE1, contextual interpretation)

Separate slurs in FE (→EE) & GE2
..

In GE1, the slur in bar 236, at the end of the line, indicates continuation, which, however, is not confirmed by the slur in bar 237. This ambiguous notation was interpreted contrary to the notation of A both in FE (→EE) and GE2. It is worth observing that the compliance of the slur of GE1 in bar 236 with A is a result of intense proofreading – originally, the entire line (bars 232-236) was provided with one-bar slurs. At the same time, the traces of the changes in bars 235-236 became so visible over time that GE1a was reengraved in this place. The oversight of the dashes marking the range of validity of the octave sign at the end of bar 236 was a side effect of this retouch. 

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GE , Errors resulting from corrections , GE revisions , FE revisions , Corrected slurs of Op. 21 in GE1

b. 297-298

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

Motivic slurs in A (→GE1)

Whole-bar slurs in FE

Whole-bar slurs in both hands in EE

Motivic slurs in both hands in GE2
..

It cannot be excluded that the slurs of GE1, compliant with A, were corrected by Chopin in the last phase of proofreading, whereas the whole-bar long slurs of FE reproduce the state prior to the proofreading. Traces of such a change are visible in GE1 in a similar situation in bars 295-296. Anyway, the slurs of FE (→EE) are certainly erroneous, whereas the analogous slurs added in EE in the L.H. are inauthentic – it is difficult to assume that Chopin would order to copy an erroneous slurring. The slurs in the L.H. added in GE2 actually specify the notation of A, yet they cannot come from Chopin, since the edition was developed after his death on the basis of GE1 compared with A. In this situation, it can be considered almost certain that all slurs in the L.H. added in EE and GE2 in the entire section until bar 308 are an arbitrary revision – cf. notes on bars 293-294, 295-304, 301-302, 303-304 and 306-308.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in FE , GE revisions , Authentic corrections of GE , Corrected slurs of Op. 21 in GE1