mUltimate Chopin

Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : No pedal release mark

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. 198

composition: Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

No pedalling in GE

in FE (→EE1)

    in EE2 (→EE3)

( ), our variant suggestion
..

The absence of pedal markings in this bar does not seem to be a mistake of GE – a typical Chopinesque harmonic pedal is not indispensable here, since all notes that are supposed to be heard are held with fingers. In this situation, the lonely  mark of FE (→EE1) may be interpreted in many different ways, e.g. as a mistake (by the engraver or even by Chopin in the basis for FE or while proofreading FE1) or an inaccuracy (overlooked ). A  mark was added in EE2 (→EE3) by analogy with similar b. 139 and 159, which, considering that the situation in the discussed bar is different, does not have to be an apt revision. Taking into account the above, in the main text we suggest a variant solution, made of the version of GE and the supplemented version of FE.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: EE revisions , No pedal release mark

b. 217-218

composition: Op. 44, Polonaise in F♯ minor

Pedalling in GE

in FE (→EE)
..

The partial lack of pedal markings in FE (→EE) must have resulted from an oversight, by the engraver or the copyist, or perhaps by Chopin himself if FE were based on the second autograph.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE , No pedal release mark

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