mUltimate Chopin

Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : EE revisions

b. 65-67

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

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It is only GE that include the correct version of the R.H. rest in the 2nd half of b. 65. In A and EE, there is only a minim rest (without a dot), while in FE there is no rest at all. In the 1st half of b. 67, A (→FE→EE) contain only a minim rest too, which suggests that it was considered to be filling a half of the bar (analogously to a semibreve rest).

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in FE , GE revisions , EE inaccuracies , Inaccuracies in A

b. 69

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

e1 tied in A, EE3 & GE4

e1 repeated in FE (→GE1→GE2→GE3,→EE1→EE2)
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The missing tie to the e1 minim in FE and in the majority of the impressions of GE and EE almost certainly results from an oversight of the engraver of FE1. It is proven by the lack of a dot prolonging this note in FE, which could not have resulted from proofreading (the dot, without which the rhythm in this bar is incomplete, was added by GE and EE). The tie was added by EE3 and GE4, most probably under the influence of an analogy to b. 77.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in FE , GE revisions

b. 77

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

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The version of FE of the R.H. rhythm is wrong – the tied e1 crotchet and the dotted e2 crotchet are placed over the 3rd and 4th L.H. crotchets; in addition, the dot prolonging the e1 minim was removed (one can see traces of it having been removed). Therefore, it is most likely that the reviser (engraver?), confused by the wrong arrangement of notes, adjusted the rhythmic values in the 1st half of the bar to that wrong arrangement. The versions of the remaining sources are correct.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Errors in FE , GE revisions , FE revisions

b. 82

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

a1 in A, EE2 (→EE3) & GE4

a1 in FE (→EE1,GE1→GE1a,GE2→GE3)
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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. 85-89

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

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In A, Chopin overlooked the flats lowering a to a in b. 85 and 89 and the  lowering a1 to a1 in b. 89. The inaccurate notation was repeated unchanged by FE (→EE1), while in b. 85 also by EE2. The versions of the remaining editions are correct (GE and EE3).

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , GE revisions , Omission of current key accidentals , Inaccuracies in A , Errors repeated in FE , Errors repeated in EE