mUltimate Chopin

Op. 31, Scherzo in B♭ minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Partial corrections

b. 265-267

composition: Op. 31, Scherzo in B♭ minor

c1 repeated, f tied in A (→FC→GE)

c1 tied, f repeated in FE (→EE)

c1 & f tied in FESf
..

The version of FE (→EE) is almost certainly erroneous:

  • had Chopin wanted to sustain c1, he would have provided it with an accent, like in b. 285, 289, 387 & 391;
  • the repeated f note in b. 267 attenuates the syncopation value of the chord in the second bar of the phrase, clearly noticeable in all the remaining seven repetitions thereof. The tie was added in FESf.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE , Sign reversal , Partial corrections

b. 265-266

composition: Op. 31, Scherzo in B♭ minor

No slurs in A (→FC→GE)

Slurs in FE (→EE)
..

According to us, the slurs combining e with f and e1 with f1 are a result of a mistake of the engraver of FE, who placed them to the left-hand side of the chord in b. 266, whereas they should be ties, placed to the right-hand side of the chord. It is supported by the following arguments:

  • the almost certainly erroneous third curved line, which turns out to be a tie of c1 – see the adjacent note;
  • problematic purpose of this addition – in relation to the top voice, led in octaves, the slur over the entire phrase encompasses precisely the notes that are combined by the discussed slurs.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE , Sign reversal , Partial corrections

b. 686

composition: Op. 31, Scherzo in B♭ minor

c1-c1 in A (→FC→GE)

c1-b in FE

b-b in EE
..

The version of FE is almost certainly erroneous, in spite of the fact that it was proofread; originally, in FE this bar was identical to the next one, yet it was only the 3rd note that was corrected, perhaps due to misunderstanding Chopin's proof entry or due to an incomplete implementation of the proofreading. EE repeated the version of FE from before proofreading, which, unless it is an extraordinary coincidence, means that it was a change introduced in the last phase of proofreading.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE , Authentic corrections of FE , Partial corrections