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Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

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b. 47

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

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category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: Cautionary accidentals , Authentic corrections of FE , FE revisions

b. 47

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Rhythm in A, probable contextual interpretation

Rhythm in FE (→GE,EE)
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On the available photograph of A, the notation of the bottom voice in the L.H. part is difficult to interpret and most probably erroneous. The authenticity of the version of FE (→GE,EE) is also uncertain; it could have resulted from the actions of the engraver of FE1. According to us, it is highly unlikely that Chopin would have wanted to shorten the duration of the bass note with respect to analogous b. 45 – such a shortening is practically imperceptible, particularly when using harmonic pedalling, which is natural in this context. Therefore, in the main text we give a text analogous to b. 45.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Errors resulting from corrections , FE revisions , Inaccuracies in A

b. 47

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

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GE1 (→GE1a,GE2→GE3) has a1 as the 5th quaver. The error is indicated by:

  • c2 occurring in A (→FE→EE),
  • analogy with bar 45,
  • a pianistically awkward cluster with the L.H. a1.

The error was corrected only in GE4.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE , Terzverschreibung error , GE revisions , Errors repeated in GE

b. 48-51

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Short & 3 long accents in A, literal reading

4 long accents in A, contextual interpretation

4 short accents in FE (→GE,EE)
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Three out of four L.H. accents in the middle of each of these bars must be long accents – it is only the one in b. 48 that may be questionable. Upon seeing a mark that he could easily identify as a common short accent, the engraver of FE (→GE,EE) provided all four marks with such a form.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , Inaccuracies in FE , Inaccuracies in A

b. 49-51

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Crotchets in A

Crotchets & minims in FE (→GE,EE)
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The additional d1 and d minims in b. 49 and 51 were added in the stage of proofreading FE1, undoubtedly by Chopin, along with the pedalling. See also b. 110-111.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Authentic corrections of FE