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Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

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Articulation, Accents, Hairpins
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Articulation, Accents, Hairpins

b. 87-88

composition: Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

2 staccato dots in GE

No dots in FE (→EE)
..

As the staccato dots over a1 are present only in these two bars in GE, it is probably a mistake of the engraver, who still did not notice that, starting from b. 87, some quavers were no longer provided with dots. In the main text we give the consistent articulation of FE (→EE).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE

b. 87-97

composition: Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

Accents on lower staff in GE

Accents above upper staff in FE (→EE)
..

It is unclear what caused the difference in the placement of the accents between GE and FE (→EE). One could assume that each version might be non-compliant with Chopin's notation:

  • the engraver of GE, upon seeing the accents above the stems of the R.H. octaves, could have moved them to the side of the noteheads, which was quite a frequent, routine procedure (in GE the majority of those accents are placed closer to the R.H. octave);
  • the copyist or engraver of FE, upon seeing the marks on the stave (between the octaves of both hands), could have moved them up to make them more legible.

At the same time, it means that each version of notation may be authentic; if FE were based on a second autograph, then even both. In the main text we give the notation of our principal source, i.e. FE, which is also supported by:

  • the accents of GE in the repetition of this section with an expanded ambitus, placed clearly above the R.H. octaves (in GE accents are only in b. 119-121 there, which, however, does not undermine this argument).
  • the appearance of accents (in b. 87) along with the a-a1 octaves, constituting the top pedal note in this entire section, generally accented by Chopin, cf., e.g. d2 in the Andante spianato, Op. 22, b. 55-62 or c2 in the Polonaise in A major, Op. 53, b. 143-151.

In the main text we place the accents above the top stave, as it was performed in FE.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Placement of markings

b. 92

composition: Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

..

In GE2 there is a staccato dot over the a-a1 octave, which is most probably a mistake.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE , GE revisions

b. 98-102

composition: Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

No L.H. marks in GE1 & FE (→EE)

Staccato dots in GE2
..

As in the previous bars, in the L.H. part GE2 arbitrarily repeated the authentic dots present above the R.H. part (at the same time, the mark on the 2nd beat of b. 99 was overlooked, which was also the case in the R.H.).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: GE revisions

b. 98-100

composition: Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

Accents on lower staff in GE

Accents above upper staff in FE (→EE)
..

In accordance with the explanation in the note in b. 87, to the main text we adopt the notation of FE (→EE) with accents over the a-a1 octaves.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Placement of markings