mUltimate Chopin

Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description
Select: 
Category
All
Graphic ambiguousness
Interpretations within context
Differences between sources
Editorial revisions
Corrections & alterations
Source & stylistic information
Slurs
All
Pitch
Rhythm
Slurs
Articulation, Accents, Hairpins
Verbal indications
Pedalling
Fingering
Ornaments
Shorthand & other
Importance
All
Important
Main
Undo Clear

Slurs

b. 45-46

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Slurs in A

Slurs in FE (→GE)

Slurs in EE
..

The first of the two R.H. slurs beginning in b. 46 is written in A with a flourish, as a result of which in FE (→GE,EE) it erroneously starts from the 1st crotchet in the bar. It prompted the reviser of EE to shorten the preceding slur, which encompasses only b. 45 in this edition.

category imprint: Differences between sources

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

b. 45-46

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Slur to e-e1 in A (literal reading→FE→GE,EE)

Slur to d-d1 in A, contextual interpretation
..

According to us, the ending of the slur in A may be inaccurate, which is indicated by the unquestionable range of the R.H. slur and by the endings of the slurs in both hands in b. 47. Due to the above, in the main text we suggest a slur reaching the d-d1 octave at the beginning of b. 46.

category imprint: Editorial revisions

b. 46

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Slur in A

No slur in FE (→GE,EE)
..

The missing slur in FE (→GE,EE) may be an oversight of the engraver of FE1.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors 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. 47-48

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Slur over 2nd half of bar in A (literal reading→FE→GE,EE)

Slur to b. 48 in A, contextual interpretation

Slur suggested by the editors
..

According to us, the slur of A is doubly inaccurate:

  • in the authentic layout, Chopin was unable to encompass the 1st half of the bar with a slur, hence he used a practically equivalent, simplified notation;
  • The ending of the slur clearly suggests that it should be continued (at the end of the line of the text), yet there is no ending in the next bar, which is a frequent occurrence in Chopinesque manuscripts. The fact that the literal interpretation of this notation adopted in the editions is wrong is proven by the same situation in the R.H. part, in which, however, the unequivocal slur in analogous b. 45-46 allows us to settle the doubt in favour of a slur led to the beginning of b. 48.

In the main text, we suggest a reconstruction of Chopin's alleged intention based on the above conditions.

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

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , Uncertain slur continuation