mUltimate Chopin

Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Uncertain slur continuation

b. 4-5

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

..

In A, bar 4 ends the line. The slur at the end of that bar very clearly suggests that it should be continued; however, it is not confirmed by the slur in b. 5, which begins over the 1st note in the bar. According to us, it is the slur in b. 4 that is reliable, which is how it was interpreted in FE (→GE,EE). 

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness

issues: Uncertain slur continuation

b. 33-34

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Slur to b. 34 in A, contextual interpretation

Slur in b. 33 in FE (→GE,EE)
..

Bar 33 ends the first side of A, and the R.H. slur written in it clearly suggests a continuation. However, on the new page, in bar 34, there is no completion of this slur. In none of the first editions does the slur extend to bar 34, however, in FE it extends beyond the last note of bar 33, which appears to be an insignificant inaccuracy, even if the engraver's intention was to convey the ambiguous notation of A. In the main text we provide a version with a slur leading to c2 in bar 34, which we consider a contextual interpretation of A.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in FE , Inaccurate slurs in A , EE inaccuracies , Uncertain slur continuation

b. 44-45

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

2 slurs, second to b. 45 in A

2 slurs in b. 44 in FE (→GE1,EE)

1 slur in GE1a

No slurs in GE2 (→GE3→GE4)
..

The missing second slur in GE1a and both slurs in GE2 (→GE3→GE4) must be errors of the engravers. The mistake committed in GE2 is a side effect of re-engraving this bar, on the edge of the page, due to the wear and tear of printing materials (engraving plates). In A, the second slur is clearly led to the beginning of b. 45; however, in FE (→GE1,EE), the ending of that slur does not reach that far.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in FE , Errors in GE , Uncertain slur continuation

b. 47-48

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Slur over 2nd half of bar in A (literal reading→FE→GE,EE)

Slur to b. 48 in A, contextual interpretation

Slur suggested by the editors
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According to us, the slur of A is doubly inaccurate:

  • in the authentic layout, Chopin was unable to encompass the 1st half of the bar with a slur, hence he used a practically equivalent, simplified notation;
  • The ending of the slur clearly suggests that it should be continued (at the end of the line of the text), yet there is no ending in the next bar, which is a frequent occurrence in Chopinesque manuscripts. The fact that the literal interpretation of this notation adopted in the editions is wrong is proven by the same situation in the R.H. part, in which, however, the unequivocal slur in analogous b. 45-46 allows us to settle the doubt in favour of a slur led to the beginning of b. 48.

In the main text, we suggest a reconstruction of Chopin's alleged intention based on the above conditions.

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

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , Uncertain slur continuation

b. 47-48

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Slur in b. 47 in A (literal reading→FE→GE,EE)

Slur to b. 48 in A, contextual interpretation
..

In A, the slur in b. 47, at the end of the line, clearly suggests that it should be continued, yet there is no ending thereof in b. 48. The fact that the version of b. 48 is erroneous (incomplete) is confirmed by a comparison with an analogous situation in b. 45-46, in which the slur undoubtedly reaches the 1st crotchet in b. 46. In FE (→GE,EE), it is the version of b. 47 that was considered inaccurate.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , Uncertain slur continuation