mUltimate Chopin

Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Authentic corrections of FE

b. 66

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

No indication in A

ritenuto in FE (→GE,EE)
..

The ritenuto indication was added – almost certainly by Chopin – in the stage of proofreading FE (→GE,EE).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Authentic corrections of FE

b. 68

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

in A

     in FE (→EE)

    in GE
..

In A, there is only one  mark, at the beginning of the bar. The remaining ones were added in the stage of proofreading FE (→EE) – along with the markings in the next bars – almost certainly by Chopin. One can have doubts whether all the marks entered by the composer were put in the correct place, since Chopin would often put them inaccurately, while the engravers would sometimes combine them with a wrong note. It is particularly the second  mark that seems to be placed too far (cf. b. 72, in which the 2nd  mark is placed certainly a crotchet too late). Due to the above, according to us, both versions of the editions may be considered equal variants.

In both cases, "harmonic legato" is probably to be applied (holding the chord's elements with fingers): .

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: GE revisions , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 69-73

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

No markings in A

Pedalling in FE (→GE,EE)
..

Detailed pedal markings concerning this theme (b. 68-81) were added in the stage of proofreading FE (→GE,EE), almost certainly by Chopin. See also the notes in b. 68 and 72, in which we discuss minor differences in the placement of the markings.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Authentic corrections of FE

b. 74-81

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

No markings in A

Pedalling in FE (→GE,EE)
..

The pedal markings in these bars, as in the previous ones (starting from b. 68), were almost certainly added by Chopin in the stage of proofreading FE (→GE,EE).

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Authentic corrections of FE

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