mUltimate Chopin

Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description
Select: 
Category
All
Graphic ambiguousness
Interpretations within context
Differences between sources
Editorial revisions
Corrections & alterations
Source & stylistic information
Pitch
All
Pitch
Rhythm
Slurs
Articulation, Accents, Hairpins
Verbal indications
Pedalling
Fingering
Ornaments
Shorthand & other
Importance
All
Important
Main
Undo Clear

Pitch

b. 125

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

..

There is a  before the 5th quaver in GE, which makes this and the 9th note sound like d. Harmonic changes in such passages can be found in Chopin's works (e.g. in the Etude in C major, Op. 10 No. 1, b. 60 and 64 or in the Etude in C minor, Op. 25 No. 12, b. 42), in this case, however, the authentic pedal markings (and other factors) indicate that one harmony should be continued until the end of the bar. The engraver of GE most probably changed the sharps to naturals a note too early (by mistake).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE

b. 126

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

..

In the main text we add cautionary flats to b and B1. The former was also added by EE.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: EE revisions

b. 132-133

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

..

In these bars, Chopin overlooked in A all necessary flats lowering a1 and a2 to a1 and a2 (in both hands). The accidentals were already added by FE (→GE,EE).

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Omission of current key accidentals , FE revisions , Inaccuracies in A

b. 134-135

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Figuration from c4 in A

Figuration from b3 in FE (→GE,EE)
..

The version introduced at the stage of proofreading FE (→GE,EE), certainly by Chopin, is definitely an improvement – the connection with the previous bar is smoother, while the shape of the applied motif refers to b. 126-129. The notation of A does not include any of the two necessary flats to a3.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Omission of current key accidentals , Authentic corrections of FE , Main-line changes , Inaccuracies in A

b. 137

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

a3 in A

a3 in FE (→GE,EE)
..

It must have been Chopin who removed the natural to the 5th quaver while proofreading FE (→GE,EE). This is the second correction at this point – in A one can see that the next note was also changed, most likely from g3 to f3. Therefore, the last two notes of the first half of the bar were, in chronological order, a3-g3, a3-f3, and a3-f3.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Authentic corrections of FE , Main-line changes