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WN 37, Lento con gran espressione

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Revisions in EL

b. 1

composition: WN 37, Lento con gran espressione

 in A1, IJ & CK (→CB)

No indication in CJ

in EL
..

 in A1 is one of the three only verbal indications in b. 1-20 (along with con forza in b. 15 and  in b. 18). The number of other dynamic markings is also significantly lower – see b. 6-7.
The absence of the indication in CJ is an oversight – it is present in CK and IJ, based on [A2], just like CJ.  in EL is an arbitrary change of Kolberg or the publisher.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors of JC , Revisions in EL

b. 1-4

composition: WN 37, Lento con gran espressione

Repeated e1 in A1, CJ & CK

d1 in CB

Tied e1 in EL
..

The version of CB featuring d1 as the middle note of the first chord in b. 2 and 4 probably results from the fact that the note was placed too low in CK. In turn, the version of EL with tied e1 is probably an arbitrary change, introduced by Kolberg in the Stichvorlage for this edition.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Balakirev's revisions , Revisions in EL

b. 1

composition: WN 37, Lento con gran espressione

No indication in A1

Lento con gran espressione in CJ, CK (→CB) & EL
..

In A1, which is of working nature, Chopin had not determined the piece's tempo or mood yet.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Revisions in EL

b. 5-6

composition: WN 37, Lento con gran espressione

Slur in A1, literal reading

Slur in CJ, literal reading

Slur in CK (→CB)

No slur in EL
..

In the main text we give the slur of CK (→CB), which is unquestionable in terms of image and music. According to us, it can also be considered an interpretation of the possibly inaccurate slurs of A1 and CJ. The slurring of A1 is generally rather of draft nature – careless and mostly short slurs appear only occasionally.
The absence of the slur in EL does not seem to be an oversight, since this edition is generally devoid of slurs and phrase marks – slurs that are not related to irregular groups are present only in b. 44 (arbitrary) and 47 (authentic). As a result, it could be regarded as a general editorial oversight.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , Inaccuracies in JC , Revisions in EL

b. 6

composition: WN 37, Lento con gran espressione

No indication in A1 & CB

lega. in CJ

leg. in CK

legg. in EL

legato suggested by the editors
..

By the end of b. 6 both sources based on [A2] – CJ and CK – convey an abbreviation of an indication, which, taking into account the context, we decipher as legato. (IJ features agit., which must be a mistake, yet it confirms that the Chopinesque entry in [A2] was probably indistinct.) In EL the generally uncommon abbreviation leg. was replaced by legg., which must be a mistake. In the main text we move this indication, referring to the accompaniment figures that are not encompassed with slurs, to the beginning of the bar, where first such figures appear.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: Revisions in EL