mUltimate Chopin

Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Errors in FE

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. 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

b. 82

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Minim in A

Dotted minim in FE (→GE,EE)
..

On the available photograph of A, the R.H. rhythm notation is vague – in the 1st half of the bar, there is an e2 minim and a crotchet rest; however, one can see a mark between them that can be considered a blurred dot prolonging the minim. If we included that dot (as it was done by FE (→GE,EE)), there would be too many rhythmic values; therefore, the editions left out the rest. According to us, the notation of A is not erroneous; the alleged dot is most probably an accidental fleck of ink, one of many visible in this manuscript.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE , Inaccuracies in A

b. 87

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Slur from b2 in A, contextual interpretation

No slur in FE (→GE,EE)
..

The range of the slur over the b2 minim is not entirely clear in A – the placement of the beginning of the slur may suggest that it runs from the 1st note in the bar. However, a comparison with the slur in the next bar proves that both slurs refer to the syncopated b2 minims only; thus, they most probably emphasise the tenuto nature of these notes.
The omission of the slur by FE (→GE,EE) may be explained by the engraver being uncertain about the range and meaning of the slur. See also the next note.  

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE , Inaccurate slurs in A , Tenuto slurs

b. 87-88

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Slurs in A, contextual interpretation

Slurs in FE (→GE,EE)
..

In A, due to corrections, the group of quavers ending b. 87 was written down on an adjacent stave, which leads to confusion as to the range of the slur – it goes beyond the bar line yet it stays far from the b1 crotchet falling on the beginning of b. 88. According to us, it is much more likely that the slur should have been led to the beginning of the next bar, which is indicated by a more transparent situation in an analogous motif a bar earlier. FE (→GE,EE) ended the slur in b. 87; in addition, a new slur starts from the 1st note in b. 88, which is clearly against the notation of A.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE , Inaccurate slurs in A , Errors resulting from corrections