mUltimate Chopin

Op. 50 No. 3, Mazurka in C♯ minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Long accents

b. 1

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

No mark in AI

Long accent in AF (→FE) & GE

Short accent in EE
..

There is no accent in AI, since Chopin at some point decided not to finish this manuscript, e.g. in b. 1-15, there are no accents (out of a few ones) or staccato dots (see the description of AI). The short accent in EE is an inaccuracy resulting from the ignorance of the difference in meaning between the Chopinesque short and long accents.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , EE inaccuracies

b. 2

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

Long accent in AF (→FE)

No mark in AI & GE

Short accent in EE
..

The missing accent in GE must be the engraver's or Chopin's inadvertence, since in all similar situations, the syncopated crotchet beginning a motif is provided with an accent.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , EE inaccuracies

b. 6

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

No mark in AI & GE2

Long accent in AF & GE1

Short accent in FE (→EE)
..

The shorter bottom arm of the accent in AF caused the mark in FE (→EE) to have been reproduced as short. The absence of the accent in GE2 is most probably an oversight.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , Inaccuracies in A

b. 17

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

Long accent in AI

in AF (→FE)

Short accent in GE

No mark in EE
..

The  mark, although reaching the end of the bar in AF (→FE), is certainly to be interpreted as a long accent. It is proven by comparison with the marks in other sources, i.e. the long accent in AI and the short one in GE, and with the analogous places in this autograph. The absence of the mark in EE seems to be a mistake of the edition's engraver.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , Errors in EE

b. 18-22

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

Short accents in AI (literal reading), FE (→EE) & GE

Long accents, possible interpretation of AI & AF
..

The notation of the autographs does not explicitly reveal which accents were meant by Chopin in b. 18 and 22. According to us, in spite of them being similar – particularly in AF – to long accents, the marks are rather to be interpreted as short due to the rhythmic analogy with b. 20 and 24, which undoubtedly feature short accents. 

In b. 22 in AF one can see a crossed-out short accent over the chord on the 3rd beat of the bar. Both accents in AI are also placed over the chords, which, according to us, does not influence the performance in this context.

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

issues: Long accents , Inaccuracies in FE , Corrections in A , Deletions in A