mUltimate Chopin

Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Inaccuracies in FE

b. 46-47

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Slur to b. 47 in A

Slur in b. 46 in FE (→GE,EE)
..

The shorter slur of FE (→GE,EE) resulted from the manner of adjusting slurs to major rhythmic entities or beams.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in FE

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)
..

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. 52

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

..

In A, there is no  to the bottom note of the octave. The patent inaccuracy was corrected in FE (→GE,EE); such a clear defect could have been rectified by the reviser.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Accidentals in different octaves , Inaccuracies in FE , FE revisions

b. 56

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Slurs in A, contextual interpretation

Slur in A, different interpretation

Slurs in FE (→GE,EE)
..

When interpreted literally, the slur from the previous bars reaches the 4th or the 5th quaver, crossing a new slur on its way, encompassing b. 56-57. According to us, this notation may have at least 3 interpretations:

  • the ending of the slur from b. 54-55 is led too far so that the slur is supposed to reach the 1st quaver in b. 56 only. We consider this version to be most likely and give it in the main text;
  • the overlapping slurs are supposed to be one slur, which we give as an alternative solution;
  • the slur beginning in b. 56 is inaccurate – it should start only after the previous one ends. It corresponds, more or less, with the notation of FE (→GE,EE).

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in FE , Inaccurate slurs in A , Inaccuracies in A

b. 63

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

..

In FE (→GE,EE), there are no dashes marking the range of calando. Taking into account the fact that they filled only a half of the bar, the inaccuracy does not influence the meaning of the indication. (The traces of corrections in print visible in FE reveal that initially it was smorz. that was printed in the 2nd half of b. 63, hence where the dashes should be. Therefore, the missing dashes most probably resulted from this mistake.) 

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in FE , FE revisions