mUltimate Chopin

Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

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Issues : Authentic corrections of GE

b. 1

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Largo in A (→FE→EE)

Lento in GE
..

Lento could have been entered by Chopin into the proof copy of the Ballade that served as the basis for GE1. However, it is uncertain whether that copy indeed included Chopin's amendments; therefore, the authenticity of Lento remains unsure. Chopin could have hesitated between these two indications – Largo works perfectly with the initial fragment,  and pesante, whereas Lento seems to be better suited to the second phrase, played , imbued with sorrow and resignation.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in GE , Authentic corrections of GE

b. 7

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

e1 in A (→FE→EE1→EE2)

d1 in GE & EE3
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The version of GE may be either a revision of this edition (cf. the comment on b. 45-47) or a variation introduced by Chopin (e.g. along with Lento – cf. the comment on b. 1). The vast majority of arguments are for the former, i.e. for this chord being arbitrarily revised in GE:

  • clear notation of A, repeated without changes in FE, which was proofread by Chopin twice;
  • testimonies of Chopin's pupils and friends – Marcelina Czartoryska, Friederike Streicher, Ferdinand Hiller and Adolf Gutmann.

Therefore, in the main text we give e1, considering d1 a variant of uncertain authenticity.
The change in EE3 must have been introduced on the basis of a comparison with GE.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , GE revisions , Authentic corrections of GE