The correct interpretation of the slurring of A in that bar poses considerable difficulties:
- The lower slur (if that almost horizontal line is a slur at all) seems too short, which could be caused by insufficient space for writing its beginning legibly under b double flat1. Another possibility is that Chopin had drawn that slur before he drew the upper one, and he put in the upper slur in order to replace the lower, unclear one.
- Also unclear is the extent of the upper slur (we do not know whether it was meant to begin from the 1st or from the 2nd note of the bar) and the connection of its beginning with the upper or the lower voice.
In our suggested solutions we are trying to reconcile the acceptable graphic interpretation of those signs with their musical sense that could be considered natural in the context. In the main text we take into account both slurs written by Chopin retaining the independent slurring of both voices of the R.H.. The alternative solution underlines the melodic continuity of the semiquaver movement heard more clearly in this bar due to lack of imitative recurring of motifs.
In GE (→FE→EE) the lower slur was omitted.
Compare the passage in the sources »
category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources
issues: Inaccurate slurs in A
notation: Slurs
