mUltimate Chopin

Op. 31, Scherzo in B♭ minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Annotations in FESf

b. 492

composition: Op. 31, Scherzo in B♭ minor

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In the main text we add a cautionary  before c2. The mark was added also in GE2 (→GE3). In A one can see here a crossing-out, perhaps of a , which would be another dispensable accidental crossed out by Chopin (see b. 490-491). A sharp was added in FESf.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: Annotations in teaching copies , GE revisions , Cautionary accidentals , Deletions in A , Annotations in FESf

b. 493

composition: Op. 31, Scherzo in B♭ minor

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In A (→FC→GE1, →FE→EE1) there is no accidental before the last crotchet in the R.H. It must be a mistake, cf., e.g. analogous b. 497. Oversight of an accidental necessary for writing a note belonging to a currently valid key is one of Chopin's most frequent mistakes. A natural was added only just in GE2 (→GE3) and EE2 (→EE3); it was also added in FESf. 

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Annotations in teaching copies , EE revisions , GE revisions , Omission of current key accidentals , Errors of A , Errors repeated in GE , Errors repeated in FE , Errors repeated in EE , Annotations in FESf

b. 500-504

composition: Op. 31, Scherzo in B♭ minor

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In the main text we add cautionary sharps before f2 in b. 500 and 502 and f1 in b. 504. In b. 502 Chopin started writing a  in A, yet he quickly abandoned it and crossed out the germ of that accidental. The accidentals were gradually added in GE: in b. 500 already in GE1, while in the remaining ones – in GE2 (→GE3). The sharp in b. 500 was added also in FESf.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions; Source & stylistic information

issues: Annotations in teaching copies , GE revisions , Cautionary accidentals , Deletions in A , Annotations in FESf

b. 521

composition: Op. 31, Scherzo in B♭ minor

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FE overlooked the  lowering c3 to c3. The mistake was rectified in EE and in two teaching copies, FED and FESf.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Annotations in teaching copies , EE revisions , Errors in FE , Annotations in FED , Annotations in FESf

b. 522

composition: Op. 31, Scherzo in B♭ minor

g2 in A (→FC→GE, →FE→EE)

g2 in FESf
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The natural lowering g2 to g2, written in ink in FESf, defines a version that, according to us, may be considered a potentially authentic variant:

  • Relation to the preceding, ascending sequence (in b. 520) was not approached by Chopin rigorously – cf. the prototype of those motifs in b. 53-56, where a descending chromatic sequence corresponds to an ascending diatonic sequence.
  • The resulting figure is strictly analogous to the next segments of the progression in b. 530 and 534.
  • The intervals resulting between the transitional notes and the ones belonging to the chords in b. 520-521 are whole tone e2-f2, semitone g2-a2 and semitone b2-c3, respectively; the figure in b. 522-523 includes the same scheme of descending intervals when the 4th quaver is g2: whole tone b2-a2, semitone g2-f2 and semitone e2-d2.
  • In this context, the note is clearly of transitional nature, without prejudice to the E major key, consolidated since b. 516.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Annotations in teaching copies , Authentic post-publication changes and variants , Annotations in FESf