mUltimate Chopin

Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

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b. 80

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Staccato in A

No mark in FE (→GE,EE)
..

The missing staccato dot under the C crotchet is most probably an oversight by the engraver of FE (→GE,EE).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE

b. 80

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Slur from 2nd note in A, contextual interpretation

Slur from 1st note in FE (→GE,EE)
..

According to us, the slur of A should be interpreted as running from the 2nd note in the bar – cf. similar situations in b. 32-33 or 68. The version of the editions is possible yet less likely – it does not include the shape of that slur, which does not suggest a relation to the bass C.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 80

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

No signs in A

before 3rd crotchet in FE (→GE,EE)

 before 4th crotchet suggested by the editors
..

The position of the first  mark is harmonically unjustified here, hence we consider it inaccurate. Inaccuracies in the interpretation of pedal markings inserted by Chopin both in autographs and while proofreading are not uncommon – cf., e.g. b. 72.

category imprint: Editorial revisions

issues: Inaccuracies in FE , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 81

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Slur from 4th crotchet in A (literal reading→FE→GE,EE)

Slur from 5th crotchet in A, contextual interpretation
..

The R.H. slur beginning in this bar is inaccurately written down in A. The interpretation adopted by FE (→GE,EE) may be regarded as graphically correct; however, according to us, the notation of A does not suggest that the slurs should coincide; on the contrary, they should be separated – the slurs in this bar both begin and end before the respective note of the motif (the beginning – "encompassing", the ending – "pointing"). It is also the musical sense that is an unequivocal argument for the slur starting from the repeated, accentuated g2 crotchet.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 82

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

a1 in A, EE2 (→EE3) & GE4

a1 in FE (→EE1,GE1→GE1a,GE2→GE3)
..

The version of FE is an oversight by the engraver – the  to the 2nd quaver in the motif was certainly not being removed in print. As far as the sound is concerned, the version featuring a1 is acceptable, which is indicated by the fact that it was repeated by EE1 and GE1 (→GE1a,GE2→GE3).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in FE , GE revisions