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Op. 50 No. 3, Mazurka in C♯ minor

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b. 123

composition: Op. 50 No. 3, Mazurka in C♯ minor

No sign in sources

[] suggested by the editors
..

In the main text we suggest adding a  hairpin after the mark of GE in analogous b. 31.

category imprint: Editorial revisions

b. 124-125

composition: Op. 50 No. 3, Mazurka in C♯ minor

Continuous slur in Af

2 slurs in GE, literal reading

Contextual interpretation of GE, our alternative suggestion
..

In the main text we give the continuous slur of AF, reproduced in FE and EE with minor inaccuracies related to the transition to a new line, starting from b. 125 – in EE the slur in b. 124 was led to the g crotchet only, whereas in FE the continuation of the slur on a new line is placed under the stave. The separated slurs of GE may be authentic – it seems that Chopin was gradually completing the slurring of the L.H. part while writing [AG], and it is AF that presents the final result of this process (in GE2 the slur ending in b. 124 was reproduced inaccurately, as a result of which it seems that its ending falls on a). The slur that begins in b. 125, perhaps added at the stage of proofreading of GE1, was placed under the stave – probably to avoid layout complications in b. 128. Therefore, as an alternative solution we suggest a slur of the same range, yet led over the tenor voice, to which it refers.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccuracies in FE , EE inaccuracies , Authentic corrections of GE

b. 124-125

composition: Op. 50 No. 3, Mazurka in C♯ minor

No sign in AF (→FE→EE)

in GE

 suggested by the editors
..

In GE the short  hairpin was most probably reproduced inaccurately, since the mark clearly refers to the R.H. part and seems to command crescendo at the beginning of the chord, which lasts the entire bar. Therefore, it is either a reversed accent or – which is more likely – a  emphasising the secundal step under b. 124-125. It is the last interpretation that we suggest in the main text. A similar marking of such motifs, often misinterpreted by engravers, can be found in Chopin's pieces on a number of occasions, e.g. in the Concerto in F Minor, Op. 21, II mov., b. 84. 

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: Scope of dynamic hairpins

b. 127-129

composition: Op. 50 No. 3, Mazurka in C♯ minor

Slur in AF (→FE)

Slur in EE

3 slurs in GE

2 slurs in GE, contextual interpretation

2 slurs suggested by the editors
..

The notation of the tenor voice slurs eventually found its shape in AF. Probably due to layout complications in b. 128, the slurring of the remaining sources is incomplete or inaccurate:

  • in FE the slur of AF was placed under the stave, probably to facilitate the drawing of the curve (we reproduce this notation in the graphic transcription – the version 'transcription');
  • in b. 127 EE continue the slur over the tenor voice, yet in b. 128 it is also the alto voice that is encompassed with it;
  • in GE, there are two slurs in the tenor voice – the continuation of the slur from the previous bars, led under the stave, and the original d-G slur in b. 128-129. It is probably a result of a later added phrase mark, perhaps only just at the stage of proofreading of GE1. The original slur, encompassing the last two notes c1-b in b. 128-129, is also preserved in the alto voice.

In the main text we give the slur of AF, completed with a slur for the alto voice, written in this autograph in analogous b. 35-37.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in FE , EE inaccuracies

b. 128-131

composition: Op. 50 No. 3, Mazurka in C♯ minor

2 slurs in AF, contextual interpretation

Continuous slur in FE (→EE)

Slur in GE
..

In AF b. 129 opens a new line, and the slur that starts at the beginning of this bar does not match the slur at the end of b. 128, which suggests continuation. The continuous slur in FE is one of possible interpretations, yet a comparison with analogous b. 37 shows that Chopin probably meant the slurs to coincide, which we give as the main text. The fact that the slur beginning in b. 129 is absent in GE is either an earlier version written in [AG] or a mistake of the engraver.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , Uncertain slur continuation