mUltimate Chopin

Op. 50 No. 1, Mazurka in G major

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 40-41

composition: Op. 50 No. 1, Mazurka in G major

Continuous slur in A1 (→FE→EE)

Separate slurs in GE
..

According to us, the continuous slur of A1 may result from overlapping of two inaccurately written slurs – in b. 40, which ends the line, and in b. 41, which opens the next one. The fact that it is probably the slur in b. 40 that is inaccurate is proven by the R.H. slur, which also clearly suggests continuation, in spite of the fact that b. 41 opens with a rest. It would mean that Chopin had one slurring concept from the very beginning, i.e. separated slurs, which was conveyed by GE.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 58-59

composition: Op. 50 No. 1, Mazurka in G major

Slur to end of bar in A1

Slur to minim in FE (→EE)

Slur to bar 59 in GE
..

In A1 b. 57 is the last one written out by Chopin before b. 58-72, marked in an abridged manner. The slur started in that bar breaks slightly after the middle of empty b. 58, which does not dissipate the doubts of the notation of b. 1-2. Therefore, there are three variants of the ending of the slur: the literal one and two possible interpretations, confirmed by the sources. To the main text we adopt the one present in the principal source, i.e. GE1. In GE2, except for the ending of the slur in b. 55, there is no R.H. slur in the entire line encompassing b. 55-60.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , Errors in GE

b. 72

composition: Op. 50 No. 1, Mazurka in G major

Slurs to bar 73 in A1 (literal reading→FE→EE)

Slur to g1 & G in A1 (contextual interpretation) & GE
..

The contact between the abridged notation of b. 58-72 and the full notation of b. 73 and subsequent contributes to the ambiguity of A1, since Chopin did not coordinate the endings of the slurs in b. 16 with the notation of b. 73. The slurs in b. 16 (corresponding to b. 72) clearly lead to the next bar; however, in b. 73 there is no proof that Chopin would have really liked to continue them or even to end them: in the R.H. part a new slur starts, while the L.H. part is devoid of slurring in the entire section from b. 73 to b. 88. According to us, it means that Chopin wanted the slurs to end in b. 72, like in GE, based on [A2], whereas the version of FE (→EE) is incorrect.   

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 80-81

composition: Op. 50 No. 1, Mazurka in G major

Overlapping slurs in bar 80 in A1, literal reading

Overlapping slurs to bar 81 in A1, possible interpretation

Continuous slur in bar 80 in A1 (probable reading) & GE

Continuous slur to bar 81 in A1, probable interpretation

Slur in bars 79-82 in FE (→EE)
..

The slurring of A1 in b. 80, which ends the line, poses a difficult editorial problem, mainly due to the last slur in that bar: it can be interpreted as a separate slur or as an inaccurately added ending of the previous one; moreover, its range suggests continuation on a new line, which is not confirmed by the slur in b. 81-82. According to us, it is a flamboyantly added ending of the slur from b. 79, and this is the interpretation we adopt to the main text. At the same time, it is compliant with the notation of GE in these bars. We give the remaining possibilities as alternative versions, since each could correspond to Chopin's intention. In FE (→EE) it was also assumed that b. 79-80 are encompassed with one slur, yet it was combined with the next one, in b. 81-82, which is very questionable in terms of music.   

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 82-83

composition: Op. 50 No. 1, Mazurka in G major

2 slurs, first to c2, in A1 (literal reading→FE)

2 slurs, first to d2, in A1 (contextual interpretation) & EE

Continuous slur in GE
..

The slur of A1 ending on the c1-c2 octave is almost certainly an inaccuracy (perhaps due to ink stoppage?); repeated in FE. In GE the slur encompasses the entire four-bar section (b. 81-84). In the main text we give the contextual interpretation of the version of A1, which was also introduced in EE.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Inaccurate slurs in A