mUltimate Chopin

WN 37, Lento con gran espressione

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Long accents

b. 26

composition: WN 37, Lento con gran espressione

No sign in A1

Long accent in CJ, possible reading

Long accent in CK

in CB

 in EL
..

The marks in CJ and CK look like long accents, although the one in CJ is written a quaver later. Having compared it with similar b. 22, we consider the mark of CK to be more accurate. The versions of CB and EL cannot be authentic; however, the diminuendo hairpin in EL is one of the possible interpretations of the manuscripts.

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

issues: Long accents , Inaccuracies in JC , Balakirev's revisions

b. 29-30

composition: WN 37, Lento con gran espressione

No marks in A1

& > in CJ & CK

& > in CB

i > in EL
..

In CJ and CK the accent in b. 30 is clearly shorter than the mark in b. 29, hence we interpret them as a short and long accent, respectively. It is compliant with the harmonic and rhythmic context of the accented notes – e2 in b. 29 creates a tense delay, whereas d2 in b. 30 is merely a dance syncopation. In CB and EL the mark in b. 29 was reproduced as a diminuendo hairpin; moreover, EL extended it so that it fills the entire 2nd half of the bar (cf. b. 23-24).

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , Scope of dynamic hairpins , Balakirev's revisions , Revisions in EL

b. 57

composition: WN 37, Lento con gran espressione

No mark in A1

Short accent in CJ, CK (→CB) & EL

Long accent, our alternative suggestion
..

A long accent seems to be more appropriate for a long note, which we suggest as an alternative solution. Due to the densely packed notation of [A2], Chopin could have had problems with marking the desired type of accent clearly.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: Long accents

b. 59-60

composition: WN 37, Lento con gran espressione

No marks in A1 & EL

Accent in bar 60 in CJ

Accent in bar 59 in CK

2 accents in CB

2 long accents, our alternative suggestion
..

Since both CJ and CK are based on [A2], their differing versions cannot be true at the same time. However, there are no grounds to consider one of them to be more likely than the other. According to us, it is also likely that according to Chopin's intention, it was both minims that were supposed to be accented – it could have been Chopin himself that overlooked it in [A2] or both copyists at the same time. This version was implemented in CB, and we suggest it in the main text. As an alternative solution we suggest two long accents, whose application in this context – long notes – is closer to the Chopinesque practices concerning the choice of accents.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: Long accents , Errors of JC , Balakirev's revisions , Errors in CK