mUltimate Chopin

Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 138

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Overlapping slurs in A, probable interpretation

Continuous slur in FE (→GE,EE)
..

In A, the slur at the end of b. 137, which ends the line, clearly indicates that it should be continued, yet in b. 138 a new slur begins. This very frequent inaccuracy was interpreted by FE (→GE,EE) as a continuous slur. In the main text we suggest a different solution, since in b. 138 a new theme of the Ballade begins.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , Uncertain slur continuation

b. 141

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Slur to b1 in A, literal reading

Slur to end of bar in FE (→GE,EE)
..

In the available photograph of A, the slur reaches only b1, which seems to emphasise the meaning of the voice separated by the additional crotchet stems. As it may be an inaccuracy of notation or even an effect related merely to the quality of the photo, not exactly the best (cf. the slur in b. 138 that is certainly supposed to reach the end of the bar), in the main text we give the version of FE (→GE,EE).

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in FE , Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 178

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

L.H. slurs in A, contextual interpretation

No slurs in FE (→GE,EE)
..

One can understand the engraver of FE (→GE,EE); he did not know how to reproduce the inaccurate slur of A in the 1st half of the bar, going over the R.H. part (in A, the 2nd half of the bar is marked in an abridged manner as a repetition of the first). According to us, although the slur, when interpreted literally, reaches the c1 crotchet in the R.H. part, according to Chopin, it was supposed to encompass the L.H. half-a-bar figure and to be repeated in the 2nd half of the bar.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE , Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 182

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Separate slurs in A, interpretation suggested by the editors

Continuous slurs in FE (→GE,EE)
..

At the end of b. 182 and 186, which end their respective lines, the slurs of A suggest that they should be continued, which is, however, not confirmed by the new slurs in b. 183 and 187. The interpretation adopted by FE (→GE,EE) seems rational, taking into account the longer slurs in b. 180-181 and 184-185. In the main text we suggest an alternative interpretation in which the range of the slurs is related to harmonic changes – the individual slurs encompass a figuration based on one chord.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , Uncertain slur continuation

b. 196-197

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Slur to g1 in A (contextual interpretation) & GE2 (→GE3→GE4)

Slur to a1 in A (literal reading→FE→EE,GE1→GE1a)
..

The slur in b. 196, which ends the page in A, indicates that it should be continued; however, there is no continuation thereof on a new page (its beginning is also inaccurate but it does not hamper its interpretation). Due to the reasons discussed in b. 194-195, we believe that Chopin could have meant a longer slur already here (to the g1 minim); however, in the main text we give the version of FE (→EE,GE1→GE1a) due to the Chopinesque intervention at the beginning of b. 197 (an accent added over g1).
The longer slur of GE2 (→GE3→GE4) resulted from retouches to the top right-hand corner of the page, which required re-engraving a certain fragment of the text, which was not always reproduced accurately (cf. b. 197-198). Compliance of this version with A is of an accidental nature. 

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , Uncertain slur continuation