mUltimate Chopin

Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Errors resulting from corrections

b. 47

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Rhythm in A, probable contextual interpretation

Rhythm in FE (→GE,EE)
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On the available photograph of A, the notation of the bottom voice in the L.H. part is difficult to interpret and most probably erroneous. The authenticity of the version of FE (→GE,EE) is also uncertain; it could have resulted from the actions of the engraver of FE1. According to us, it is highly unlikely that Chopin would have wanted to shorten the duration of the bass note with respect to analogous b. 45 – such a shortening is practically imperceptible, particularly when using harmonic pedalling, which is natural in this context. Therefore, in the main text we give a text analogous to b. 45.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Errors resulting from corrections , FE revisions , Inaccuracies in A

b. 87-88

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

Slurs in A, contextual interpretation

Slurs in FE (→GE,EE)
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In A, due to corrections, the group of quavers ending b. 87 was written down on an adjacent stave, which leads to confusion as to the range of the slur – it goes beyond the bar line yet it stays far from the b1 crotchet falling on the beginning of b. 88. According to us, it is much more likely that the slur should have been led to the beginning of the next bar, which is indicated by a more transparent situation in an analogous motif a bar earlier. FE (→GE,EE) ended the slur in b. 87; in addition, a new slur starts from the 1st note in b. 88, which is clearly against the notation of A.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE , Inaccurate slurs in A , Errors resulting from corrections

b. 121

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

No slur in A (→FE1→GE,EE)

Slur in FE2
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There is no reason to doubt the authenticity of the slur added in the stage of proofreading FE2. The absence of the slur in A could have been caused by corrections – see the preceding note.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors resulting from corrections , Authentic corrections of FE

b. 170

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

..

None of the sources includes a  restoring e2 at the end of the bar. It must be Chopin's oversight – it is the most frequent mistake committed by Chopin. In this case, the likelihood of an error was additionally increased by the change of pitch of the note – initially, Chopin wrote here a2 in A – performed almost certainly due to the combination with the next bar.

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: Omissions to cancel alteration , Errors resulting from corrections , Errors repeated in GE , Errors repeated in FE , Errors repeated in EE

b. 179

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

..

In GE2, this bar was re-engraved, most probably due to the wear and tear of this fragment of the plate. At the same time, a "mirror" mistake was committed – the slur along with the digit 4, marking a quadruplet, was printed under the first four bottom voice crotchets (it was placed to the left of the g1 crotchet instead of to the right). Interestingly, the rhythmic mistake of GE2 was not corrected in the subsequent impressions of GE – GE3 (→GE4) added the correct slur but did not move the digit.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors resulting from corrections , Errors in GE , GE revisions , Sign reversal