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Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

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Articulation, Accents, Hairpins

b. 197

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

No mark in A

Short accent on g1 in FE (→GE)

Long accent on g1 in EE

Long accent on e1, our alternative suggestion
..

The accent added by FE (→GE) looks more like a common short accent. However, it is more likely that Chopin wrote a longer mark while the engraver of FE reproduced it in a standard manner. An example of this could be the accents in b. 201-205, undoubtedly long in A; in FE, they are virtually identical to the discussed one (the form of typical Chopinesque short accents can be seen on the same page of A, in b. 208-213). Due to the above, in the main text we suggest a long accent. The easiest explanation for the presence of a long accent in EE is the engraver's inaccuracy.

The placement of the accent is a more serious issue – according to us, it is likely that Chopin wrote it over e1, which was misinterpreted by the editions. Justification for this assumption – see the previous note. Accents (or other marks) ascribed to other notes by mistake can also be found in other pieces by Chopin (cf., e.g. the misplaced slur in b. 172-173 in the Concerto in F minor, Op. 21, III mov.).

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Long accents , Errors in FE , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 198

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

No marks in A (→FE→GE)

Staccato dots in EE
..

The missing dots over the L.H. crotchets must be considered Chopin's inadvertence – the marks are present in all the remaining similar situations. Therefore, in the main text we include the dots added by EE.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: EE revisions

b. 198

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Slur in A, possible contextual interpretation

in A, different reading

No sign in FE (→GE,EE)
..

In the available photograph of A, it seems that the mark entered under a part of the quaver figure is an inaccurate slur of the original range (only to the last quaver). The longer slur entered over the figure must be the final version (see b. 194-195), hence we give it in the main text as the only one, in compliance with FE (→GE,EE).
According to us, the possible slur could also be a  mark, of which it is only the upper arm that is visible in the photograph (cf.  in b. 200). Due to the uncertainty concerning the interpretation of the mark and its absence in the principal source (FE), we do not include it in the main text.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE , Inaccurate slurs in A , Authentic corrections of FE , Inaccuracies in A

b. 204

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Dots & slur in A (→FE→EE)

No markings in GE
..

The missing dots and slur are a patent mistake by the engraver of GE1, repeated by GE1a and subsequent impressions of GE.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE

b. 206-207

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Staccato dot in bar 207 in A

No marks in FE (→GE,EE)

Dots suggested by the editors
..

We consider the missing staccato dot in b. 206 to be Chopin's inadvertence – there is no reason for the articulation of the crotchets in this bar to differ from the one indicated in A in b. 207. The absence of a dot in FE (→GE,EE) also in b. 207 must be an oversight by the engraver.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: Errors in FE