mUltimate Chopin

Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Inaccuracies in FE

b. 165

composition: Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

No markings in GE & EE2 (→EE3)

 in FE (→EE1), literal reading

  in FE, possible interpretation
..

The  mark in FE (→EE1) must be a mistake; however, it is unclear whether the pedalling was supposed to be indicated here but was implemented inaccurately or whether the mark was placed here by mistake. If the former were true, the position of the mark would require a correction, and a  would have to be added – Chopin could have meant here a short pedal, like the one in, e.g. b. 204. According to us, it is, however, the latter that is more likely, hence in the main text we follow GE and do not include this mark. A similar solution was also adopted by EE2 (→EE3).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in FE , No pedal release mark

b. 199-200

composition: Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

a-b slur in GE & FE

No arc in EE1

Tie to b in EE2 (→EE3)
..

The tie to b was reproduced correctly only in EE2 (→EE3). The inaccuracies of the remaining editions resulted from the Chopinesque manner of writing down ties as short, quite thick curved lines, not running from a note to the other one, but placed next to the attached note (cf., e.g. the first page of the autograph of the Mazurka in G major, Op. 50 No. 1, particularly the e-e1 octaves in b. 18-20 and 22-24). In the discussed bars of the Polonaise, the parts of both hands (4 voices!) are written down on the bottom stave, which could have been an additional obstacle to the correct interpretation and reproduction of that tie. There is a similar situation two bars later.

The slur of FE (→EE) over b. 198-200, which ends in the same place, is discussed separately.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

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

b. 208

composition: Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

..

There is no accidental to the bottom note of the 2nd grace note (d2) in the sources. This patent inaccuracy was removed only in GE2, in which the first grace note, with a  to the bottom note, was moved to the beginning of b. 208. It could have been the inaccuracies concerning the accidentals of the grace notes that influenced the decision to correct the rhythm too.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccuracies in FE , GE revisions , Errors repeated in EE

b. 210

composition: Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

..

In FE1 the  to the bottom note of the 2nd quaver is missing. The patent oversight was corrected both in FE2 and EE.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Accidentals in different octaves , Inaccuracies in FE , FE revisions

b. 223

composition: Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

No markings in GE & EE

 in FE

  suggested by the editors
..

The pedalling of FE is most probably incomplete, hence in the main text we supplement it after analogous b. 221 (as well as 203). The missing markings in EE most probably resulted from an oversight, as in the two preceding bars.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: Inaccuracies in FE , No pedal release mark