mUltimate Chopin

Op. 50 No. 3, Mazurka in C♯ minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 131-132

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

Slur in bars 132-133 in AF

Longer slur in bars 132-133 in FE

Slur in bars 131-133 in GE

Slur in bar 132 in EE

Our alternative suggestion
..

Just like in b. 39-42, in the main text we give the slur of AF, which emphasises the a1-b1 step under b. 132-133 as the ending of the tenor voice. This slur – not entirely clear – was initially interpreted in FE as a slur combining the d1-a1 crotchets. This version is preserved in EE, whereas in FE Chopin prolonged this erroneous slur to a version tantamount to the longer slur of GE. According to us, this ad hoc correction does not have to mean that the composer definitely abandoned the slur of AF; in turn, it suggests that Chopin, to the very end, did not consider any of them to be final. The slur of GE, indicating the actual articulation of the L.H. part, may be then considered an equal variant. Taking into account Chopin's hesitation, as an alternative version we also suggest combining the relevant indications of both versions into one slur.

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

issues: Inaccuracies in FE , Inaccurate slurs in A , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 133-138

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

Slurs in AF, literal reading

Slurs in AF, contextual interpretation

Slurs in FE

Slurs in GE

Slurs in EE
..

Two or three slurs that originate from the previous bar are continued differently due to the different placement of the slurs concerning the inner voices as well as due to the change of the function of one of the slurs of AF – the slur that began in b. 131 as an alto voice slur and led between this voice and the higher placed soprano voice minims (in our transcription placed under the alto voice) already concerns the entire R.H. part from the 2nd quaver in b. 133.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 143-144

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

No slur in AI & GE

Slur in AF (literal reading→FE→EE)

Slur in AF, contextual interpretation
..

The slur in AF ends between the semiquaver and the crotchet. The ending of the slur is poorly visible against the middle line of the stave; it is likely that Chopin ran out of ink and could not drag the slur to the crotchet that ends the motif. Due to the above reason, in the main text we suggest a musically more natural interpretation of this notation (cf. b. 147). We consider the absence of the slur in GE to be Chopin's inadvertence or the engraver's mistake.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 159

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

Slurs in AI, possible interpretation of AF

Slurs in Af (literal reading→FE→EE) & GE

Slurs suggested by the editors
..

In AF both the ending of the slur from the previous bars and the beginning of the new one are written inaccurately, hence it is unclear which notes they are supposed to concern. The ending of the former is similarly inaccurate in GE, which suggests that it was also [AG] that was not precise in this respect. We reproduce the text of both sources the way it was performed in FE (→EE), which seems to be closest to this notation. However, we are convinced that Chopin meant the slur to be divided after the 1st beat of the bar, as in AI or the way both AF and GE have it in analogous b. 167.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 172

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

Continuous slur in AI, GE & FE (→EE)

2 slurs in AF, literal reading
..

In AF the slur breaks here; however, it is uncertain whether it was supposed to indicate a division of the slur – one can see it as an inaccurately written combination of the slurs, which is how it was interpreted in FE (→EE). In the main text we give the continuous slur of GE, which almost certainly corresponds to the notation of [AG]. See also the note in the next bar.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A