mUltimate Chopin

Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 198

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Slur in A, possible contextual interpretation

in A, different reading

No sign in FE (→GE,EE)
..

In the available photograph of A, it seems that the mark entered under a part of the quaver figure is an inaccurate slur of the original range (only to the last quaver). The longer slur entered over the figure must be the final version (see b. 194-195), hence we give it in the main text as the only one, in compliance with FE (→GE,EE).
According to us, the possible slur could also be a  mark, of which it is only the upper arm that is visible in the photograph (cf.  in b. 200). Due to the uncertainty concerning the interpretation of the mark and its absence in the principal source (FE), we do not include it in the main text.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE , Inaccurate slurs in A , Authentic corrections of FE , Inaccuracies in A

b. 203-204

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Slur in bar 204 in A, literal reading

Slur in b. 203-204 in A (contextual interpretation→FE→GE,EE)
..

According to the available photograph of A, the slur over this motif starts at the beginning of b. 204. If that were true, the slur must be inaccurate, since Chopin put it over bars marked in an abridged manner, devoid of notes. From the musical point of view, such a slur could be possible; however, it seems highly unlikely that Chopin would have wanted to indicate an extremely subtle difference in phrasing in such a vague manner.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 205

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Slur in A (→FE→EE,GE1→GE1a,GE2→GE3)

No slur in GE4
..

In A (→FE→GE), the slur running from the a2 crotchet is not continued in the next bar (in a new line). The inaccuracy was removed by EE, in which the ending of the slur was added in b. 206; GE4 also removed the beginning of that slur.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , GE revisions , Uncertain slur continuation

b. 206

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Slur in A (→FE→GE1→GE1a,GE2→GE3), contextual interpretation & in EE

No slur in GE4
..

In A, the slur that began in the previous bar (at the end of a line) was not continued here. This inaccuracy, so frequent in Chopin's works, was repeated by FE (→GE). We reproduce this incomplete, clearly erroneous version only in the graphic transcription, except for GE4, in which it was also the beginning of this slur in b. 205 that was removed. The ending of the slur was added only by EE.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Source & stylistic information

issues: EE revisions , Inaccurate slurs in A , Uncertain slur continuation , Errors repeated in GE , Errors repeated in FE

b. 206

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Slur from 2nd crotchet in A, contextual interpretation

Slur from 1st crotchet in A (incomplete literal reading→FE→GE,EE)
..

In A, there are 2 slurs over the L.H. part – one encompassing almost an entire bar and the other starting clearly on the 2nd crotchet (d-b) and ending after the 3rd crotchet, under the first, longer slur and over an extensive deletion and the final version of the 4th crotchet, written below. FE (→GE,EE) included only the top, long slur, interpreting it as a whole-bar slur. According to us, such an interpretation, although graphically correct, is, however, erroneous, since the top slur encompasses the removed initial version of the five-crotchet sequence of fifths and sixths, the beginning of which was written right after the D1-D octave due to corrections. Therefore, if we are to consider the undeleted notes, the beginning of the slur does fall over the octave; however, to avoid misunderstandings, another slur was added, indicating the intended beginning of the slur with respect to the final version of the sequence of dyads. Consequently, in the main text we give a slur encompassing 5 crotchets, which was Chopin's intention both in the initial and the final version of the sequence of dyads. It is also compliant with the slur over a similar figure in the next bar, which is already less problematic.

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

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