mUltimate Chopin

Op. 31, Scherzo in B♭ minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Inaccuracies in FE

b. 478

composition: Op. 31, Scherzo in B♭ minor

Long accent in A (→FC)

Short accent in FE (→EE) & GE2 (→GE3)

No mark in GE1
..

The long accent in A (→FC), quite clear, was reproduced in FE (→EE) as a short one. The mark in FC was first overlooked (in GE1) and then included in GE2 (→GE3), yet also as a short one.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccuracies in FE , Errors in GE , GE revisions

b. 481-482

composition: Op. 31, Scherzo in B♭ minor

Slur to bar 482 in A (→FC→GE1) & GE3

Slur in bar 481 in FE (→EE) & GE2
..

While the slur of A does not reach the 1st octave in b. 482, it does go beyond the bar line, which indicates that it was supposed to reach that octave. This is how it was understood by Fontana in FC (→GE1); moreover, such a slur – without a doubt – is present in analogous b. 489-490. The versions of GE2 and GE3 prove inconceivable dilemmas of the revisers of the second German edition concerning the range of that and similar slurs.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in FE , Inaccurate slurs in A , GE revisions

b. 495-503

composition: Op. 31, Scherzo in B♭ minor

Long accents in A

No marks in FC (→GE1)

Short accents in FE (→EE) & GE2 (→GE3)
..

Wherever the bass features the seventh of a dominant chord, Chopin provides it in A with a long accent (b. 495 and 503). The marks were overlooked by Fontana in FC (→GE1), whereas in FE (→EE) they were reproduced as short accents. Short accents were added in GE2 (→GE3), suspecting, correctly, inaccuracy of the notation of FC and GE1. A particular role of those notes is also emphasised by a slur combining each of them with the bass note in the next bar.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , Inaccuracies in FE , GE revisions , Errors of FC

b. 505-506

composition: Op. 31, Scherzo in B♭ minor

Two-note slur in A (→FC→GE)

Whole-bar slur in FE

4-notes slur in EE
..

The inaccurate slur of A, which starts slightly too early, was misinterpreted in FE (→EE). In turn, the inaccuracy of FE – the end of the slur in b. 505 suggests continuation, which is not confirmed by b. 506 in a new line, which does not contain an ending of that slur – resulted in a further erroneous extension of the slur in EE.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Inaccuracies in FE , Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 521

composition: Op. 31, Scherzo in B♭ minor

in A & GE

Shorter  in FC

in bar 521 in FE (→EE)

Long accent in FED
..

According to us, the placement of the  hairpin under the L.H. chords in A was forced by lack of place over them: due to the notation of the topmost notes of the chords on the top stave, the mark must have been situated in a place already occupied by the R.H. slur and rests. It is confirmed by a teaching entry in FED, which we thus consider to be the most accurate expression of Chopin's intention. The hairpin of A was reproduced inaccurately both in FC and FE. In turn, the version of GE is close enough to the notation of A to be considered equivalent.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Annotations in teaching copies , Annotations in FED , Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccuracies in FE , Scope of dynamic hairpins , Inaccuracies in FC