mUltimate Chopin

Op. 24 No. 3, Mazurka in A♭ major

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 10-12

composition: Op. 24 No. 3, Mazurka in A♭ major

Slurs in AI

Slurs in A

Different reading of A (→GE→FE→EE)

Our suggestion
..

Slurs—and other performance markings—differ in AI from the later A version. In A Chopin wrote down two slurs (no account taken of a slur linked with the triplet—see below) but placed the beginning of the second one in such a way that it may be regarded as he would like to link it to the first. It was thus understood in GE (→FE→EE) which give one slur. Starting a new slur after a pause which stops the flow of music seems more natural.

According to the General editorial principles, p. 16, in the main text we omit a slur over the triplet in bar 10. We also supplement a slur ending overlooked in A (→GE→FE→EE) in bar 12 (2a volta).

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

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , Triplet slurs

b. 12

composition: Op. 24 No. 3, Mazurka in A♭ major

..

Whether the slur encompasses only the two quavers, or should be continued in bar 1 is not clear in A. In GE (→FE→EE) the slur was interpreted as a shorter one. AI has no slurs in this bar.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 13-20

composition: Op. 24 No. 3, Mazurka in A♭ major

L.H. rhythm and slur in AI

A, slurs interpreted

Without slur in bar 12 in GE1

Inaccurate slur in bar 15 in FE (→EE)

Arbitrary supplements in GE2

Our suggestion
..

In A (→GE→FE→EE) Chopin modified the articulation of the L.H. part in relation to AI by separating shorter motifs by means of slurs, quavers and rests. Inaccurate notation of slurs appears both in A (in bars 15, 17 & 19-20) and in the editions—in GE1 (→FE→EE) in bar 13, and in FE (→EE) also in bar 15. Moreover, GE2 introduced arbitrary supplements to the slurring in bars 12-14, 15-16 & 17-18. We propose the slurs of A, interpreted and supplemented according to the divisions indicated by the rhythmic values.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Inaccuracies in FE , Inaccurate slurs in A , Errors in GE , GE revisions

b. 32-33

composition: Op. 24 No. 3, Mazurka in A♭ major

..

Although  the slur in A is missing its ending in bar 33 (in a new line of text), Chopin must have intended that slur to reach f1 in that bar, which is evident from:

  • the slur shape in bar 32,
  • omission of a wedge at the beginning of bar 33, which confirms Chopin's weakened attention when writing that fragment,
  • slur extension in analogous bars 28-29,
  • slurs of AI in all the analogous bar.

This is how the slur was interpreted in GE (→FE→EE).

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 33

composition: Op. 24 No. 3, Mazurka in A♭ major

Slurs in A, literal reading

Slurs in AI, contextual interpretation of A

Slur in GE1 (→FE)

Slur in EE

Slur in GE2
..

Read literaly, the slur in A begins under the last note of the triplet. The notation in AI in that bar (= bar 9), and the script of the both autographs in the analogous bar 29 convince that this is an inaccuracy of notation due to the position of the accent on the 2nd beat. GE (→FE) already interpreted it that way repeating a longer slur from the analogous bar 29 (with similar imprecision, and also omitting a 'triplet' slur). EE shifted the beginning of the slur to under the grace note what certainly is mistaken.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A