mUltimate Chopin

Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

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b. 242

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

in A

Accent in FE (→GE,EE)
..

In the main text we give the accent added probably by Chopin in the stage of proofreading FE (→GE,EE) instead of , which was present in A. There are a few examples of Chopin reducing the number of  markings in the refinement stage, e.g. in the Etudes, Op. 10 – in A minor, No. 2 or in E, No. 11.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Authentic corrections of FE

b. 242-244

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

5 sextuplet slurs in A

4 sextuplet slurs in FE (→GE,EE)

No sextuplet slurs, our alternative suggestion
..

In A, each of the subsequent 7 sextuplets in b. 242-245 is provided with a digit 6 and a separate slur, irrespective of the primary slur encompassing the entire chromatic sequence. Apart from minor inaccuracies, this notation was reproduced in the editions too. Such accuracy in marking a most regular structure is exceptional not only in Chopin's manuscripts, but also in the editorial practices in general. In this situation, we keep it in the main text, although the mUltimate Chopin editors did not find any potential reason for this uncommon notational consistency convincing enough to be worth mentioning. Our alternative suggestion is a simplified notation, adapted to the principles we adhere to in our transcriptions – cf. General Editorial Principles, p. 16.
The absence of the first of the additional slurs seems to be an inadvertence by the engraver of FE (→GE,EE). 

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

issues: Errors in FE , Triplet slurs

b. 243

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

b with  in A (→FE→EE,GE)

b in GE1a

b without  suggested by the editors
..

The version of GE1a is most probably a mistake by the engraver, although one cannot completely exclude a revision – the cautionary  to b, present in the remaining sources, is not indispensable here and could have been considered erroneous. The engraver or reviser of GE1a was similarly overly zealous in, e.g. b. 232.
In A there is no  raising e1 to e1 in this chord. It is almost certainly a mistake – cf. e1 in b. 240-241 – corrected by FE (→GE,EE). In the main text we omit the cautionary  to b, more justified in the original layout, in which the first 5 quavers in the previous bar – to b – are written down on the bottom stave.

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

issues: Errors in GE , Cautionary accidentals , Authentic corrections of FE , FE revisions

b. 245-246

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

2 separate slurs in A

Continuous slur in FE (→EE)

3 separate slurs in GE
..

In A, the slurs between these bars were being corrected – according to us, Chopin divided the initial continuous slur, which is indicated by the endings marking the division of the slur (the endings are clearly bolder, hence more important, final). However, the part of the initial slur that was supposed to be deleted was not eventually removed, hence FE (→EE) understood this correction the other way around (it is also likely that the correction was not there yet when FE was being engraved – see the description of FE). In the main text we give the slurs separated by Chopin. The versions of GE and GE1a, with the slur divided before the last sextuplet and after it, most probably resulted from mistakes or arbitrary revisions.
We discuss the issue of the additional slurs encompassing the sextuplets separately – see the previous note.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations; Source & stylistic information

issues: Errors in FE , Corrections in A , Errors resulting from corrections , Errors in GE , GE revisions

b. 245

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

2 sextuplet slurs in A (→FE→EE)

No additional sex­tuplet slurs in GE, our alternative suggestion

1 additional slur in GE1a
..

In the main text we reproduce the additional slurs over the sextuplets, consistently present in A (→FE,EE).
Justification for our alternative suggestion without separate sextuplet slurs – see b. 242-244. The fact that these slurs are partially or completely missing from GE and GE1a is most probably due to mistakes or arbitrary revisions.
The issue concerning the divisions of the top slur are discussed in the next note.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: Errors in GE , GE revisions