mUltimate Chopin

Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

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b. 171

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

d2-a2 & a2-b2 in A & FE1 (→GE1→GE2, →EE1→EE2)

d2-a2-a2 & d2-b2 in FE2

a2-a2 & d2-b2 suggested by the editors

f2-a2 & d2-a2-b2 in GE1a

a2-a2 & b2 in GE3 (→GE4)

a2 & d2-a2-b2 in EE3
..

The version of A (→FE1) (→GE1→GE2 →EE1→EE2) was changed in FE2. The change was almost certainly performed at Chopin's request; however, it is unlikely that he would have wanted to leave d2 in the penultimate crotchet of the quintuplet – the aim of the correction was most probably a version analogous to b. 170. Therefore, it would be an example of an unfinished correction – the engraver was supposed to move d2 from the 4th crotchet to the 5th; he inserted it in a new place, but did not remove it from the former. Such mistakes are very frequent, e.g. in the Ballade in F, Op. 38, b. 179, the Scherzo in B minor, Op. 20, b. 135 and 292 or the Polonaise in A, Op. 40 No. 1, b. 93). Therefore, in the main text we suggest a respectively modified version of FE2, most probably intended by Chopin.

Versions of the remaining sources are arbitrary attempts to partially or completely unify the respective fragments of b. 170 and 171.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources; Editorial revisions; Corrections & alterations

issues: EE revisions , Errors in EE , Errors in GE , GE revisions , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 181-187

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

..

In A, the flats lowering a1 to a1 in b. 181 and 184-187 and a to a in b. 183 and 186-187 are missing. These patent inaccuracies were already corrected by FE (→GE,EE).

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

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

b. 190

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

..

We add a cautionary  before a2 in the main text.

category imprint: Editorial revisions

b. 193

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

e2 in A (→FE→EE,GE1→GE1a,GE2)

d2 in GE3 (→GE4)
..

The change of authentic e2 to d2 performed several dozen years after Chopin's death was an arbitrary decision. It is difficult to say what prompted the reviser of GE3 to introduce it – whether he was convinced (unjustifiably) that it was a G minor chord that was valid as the harmonic basis or whether he was unable to find a comfortable fingering (after all, there are several possibilities).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: GE revisions

b. 193

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

d1 in A

e1 in FE (→GE,EE)
..

According to us, the version of A is a mistake, which is indicated by a comparison with an analogous phrase in b. 93, identical in terms of the intervals used. Anyways, authentic proofreading of FE proves that this version was ultimately rejected.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors of A , Authentic corrections of FE