mUltimate Chopin

Op. 50 No. 2, Mazurka in A♭ major

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Inaccuracies in GE

b.

composition: Op. 50 No. 2, Mazurka in A♭ major

Arpeggio & appoggiatura in A1

Tied acciaccatura in FE (→EE)

Acciaccatura & arpeegio in GE

Our alternative suggestion
..

None of the first editions reproduced the arpeggio before the chord with grace note correctly. The version of FE (→EE) is most probably a distorted notation of A1: the vertical curved line marking the arpeggio was reproduced as a conventional one, which converted it into a tie of the grace note. In GE the wavy line of the arpeggio encompasses the L.H. e note, which is a mistake. In all editions, the grace note is slashed, contrary to A1, which is probably an inaccuracy or a routine revision. However, it does not influence the performance, since Chopin would often use slashed and non-slashed small quavers interchangeably. In the main text we give the undoubtedly authentic notation of A1; in turn, we suggest the reconstruction of the notation of [A2] as an alternative version on the assumption that GE1 reproduced all elements of the notation, except for the wavy line's range, correctly.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GE , FE revisions

b. 19-20

composition: Op. 50 No. 2, Mazurka in A♭ major

No pedalling in A1 (→FE→EE)

Pedalling in GE

Our variant suggestion
..

Due to the following reasons, in the main text we include the pedalling of GE in a variant form only:

  • the  asterisk in b. 19 is almost certainly misplaced;
  • harmonic pedalling is not necessary here, since the notes forming part of the harmonic base are held with fingers.

There is a similar situation in b. 50-51 and 94-95.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GE

b. 50-51

composition: Op. 50 No. 2, Mazurka in A♭ major

No pedalling in A1 (→FE→EE)

Pedalling in GE1

Pedalling in GE2

Our variant suggestion
..

Due to the reasons explained in analogous b. 19-20, in the main text we give the pedalling of GE in a variant form only. At the same time, we include the correction of the placement of the  mark in b. 50, introduced in GE2.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GE

b. 68

composition: Op. 50 No. 2, Mazurka in A♭ major

No mark in A1 (→FE→EE)

Long accent (?) in GE1, literal reading

Long accent on 2nd beat in GE2

Short accent on 3rd beat suggested by the editors
..

Just like 7 next accents in b. 69-75, the mark in GE1 was added by Chopin in the proofreading or still in [A2]. Its placement must be inaccurate: there are no doubts that it is the 3rd and not the 2nd beat that is to be accented, yet GE2 understood it the other way round (with accent on the 2nd beat). According to us, the size of the mark is also unreliable (cf. the note in b. 60-64), hence in the main text we give a contextual interpretation thereof.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Inaccuracies in GE , Authentic corrections of GE

b. 69-71

composition: Op. 50 No. 2, Mazurka in A♭ major

No marks in A1 (→FE→EE)

Accents in GE
..

In the main text we include the accents added by Chopin in the proofreading of GE or in [A2]. The accent of GE2 in b. 69 is placed between the crotchets, which is a patent mistake.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Inaccuracies in GE , Authentic corrections of GE