mUltimate Chopin

Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Inaccuracies in FE

b. 125

composition: Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

No sign in GE

 in FE, literal reading

 in FE, possible interpretation

Long accent in FE, interpretation suggested by editors

Accent in EE
..

According to us, the  mark in FE was inaccurately copied from the manuscript. After the eight-bar diminuendo and after defining the new level of dynamics (), most probably target, a common prolongation of the diminuendo by a fraction of a bar seems to be insignificant, hence it is highly unlikely that Chopin could have written it down in such a form. Due to the above reason, we suggest two possible interpretations of this mark, which are, according to us, more likely in this context.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , Inaccuracies in FE

b. 127-130

composition: Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

6 staccato dots in bars 129-130 in GE

5 dots in bars 127-128 and 4 dots in bars 129-130 in FE (→EE1)

5 dots in both in EE2 (→EE3)
..

In the main text we give 10 staccato dots after EE2. Such an articulation is an obvious addition to the articulation of our principal source, i.e. FE, in which the staccato dot over the 2nd crotchet in b. 129 was overlooked. As far as GE are concerned, it seems that both the absence of dots in b. 127-128 and the dot at the beginning of b. 129 resulted from mistakes, i.e. an oversight and a routine addition, respectively.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Inaccuracies in FE

b. 127

composition: Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

No slur in GE & FE (literal reading→EE)

Slur in FE, contextual interpretation
..

In the main text we add the ending of the slur, since in the previous bar its shape in FE suggested that it should be continued.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Editorial revisions

issues: Inaccuracies in FE , Uncertain slur continuation

b. 131

composition: Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

on first beat in GE & EE

on 2nd beat in FE
..

The placement of the  mark in FE must be inaccurate and was corrected in EE.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Inaccuracies in FE

b. 131-139

composition: Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

7 staccato dots in GE1

1 dot in FE (→EE)

4 dots in GE2

9 dots suggested by the editors
..

We give the staccato dots under the bass notes after GE1, in which they are absent only in b. 135-136. According to us, it makes it possible for us to consider (with as high probability as possible) that Chopin's intention was to mark all those notes with dots. The clearly defective version of FE (→EE) probably resulted from the accumulation of the oversights by the engraver of FE1 with the earlier ones, in the handwritten basis for that edition. The omission of the marks in b. 137-139 in GE2 seems to be a revision. 

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccuracies in FE , GE revisions