mUltimate Chopin

Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Inaccuracies in A

b. 123

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Mordent with a2 in FE (→EE)
..

According to us, the sharp over the mordent, added almost certainly by Chopin while proofreading FE (→EE), does not change the sound, but specifies the incomplete notation of A. It is already the G minor chord in the preceding bar that suggests the further direction of the modulation; a modulation that, through the G minor key (featuring a), showed explicitly in the octave sequence in the discussed bar, and the e-g-b-d chord in the next two bars strives for the dominant chord in D minor in b. 126 (which found its eventual resolution on E major 12 bars later).
The easiest explanation for GE missing the  is the engraver's oversight.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE , Authentic corrections of FE , Inaccuracies in A

b. 124

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

L.H. long accent in A

R.H. long accent in FE

R.H. short accent in GE

in EE
..

Due to the high position of the chord, the clear long accent over the L.H. chord is partially on the top stave in A, as a result of which FE (→GE,EE) linked it to the R.H. part. Consequently, the mark was also moved horizontally, hence in FE it looks like a long accent under the d3 quaver. This is how it was understood in GE, in which, however, it was reduced to the size of a common short accent. EE considered the mark a short diminuendo and slightly shifted it to the left.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Long accents , Inaccuracies in GE , Inaccuracies in FE , Inaccuracies in A

b. 124

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

..

In A (→FE), there is not a single accidental in the R.H. passage in the entire 2nd half of the bar. This simplified notation was supplemented both by GE and EE.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Accidentals in different octaves , GE revisions , Inaccuracies in A , Errors repeated in FE

b. 132-133

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

..

In these bars, Chopin overlooked in A all necessary flats lowering a1 and a2 to a1 and a2 (in both hands). The accidentals were already added by FE (→GE,EE).

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Omission of current key accidentals , FE revisions , Inaccuracies in A

b. 134-135

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Figuration from c4 in A

Figuration from b3 in FE (→GE,EE)
..

The version introduced at the stage of proofreading FE (→GE,EE), certainly by Chopin, is definitely an improvement – the connection with the previous bar is smoother, while the shape of the applied motif refers to b. 126-129. The notation of A does not include any of the two necessary flats to a3.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Omission of current key accidentals , Authentic corrections of FE , Main-line changes , Inaccuracies in A