mUltimate Chopin

Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

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Issues : GE revisions

b. 7

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

e1 in A (→FE→EE1→EE2)

d1 in GE & EE3
..

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

b. 18-20

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

No marks in A (→FE)

Accent in b. 18 in GE

2 accents in EE

2 long accents suggested by the editors
..

In A, a new page begins from b. 17, which could have been the reason Chopin overlooked the accents in b. 18 and 20. Due to the above, in the main text we suggest adding respective marks after b. 8, 10 and analog. Short accents modelled on the preceding bars were also added in EE; by contrast, in GE it was only the accent in b. 18 that was added.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: EE revisions , GE revisions

b. 26-27

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

d2 tied in A & GE4

d2 repeated in FE (→EE,GE1→GE1a,GE2→GE3)
..

The tie sustaining in A the d2 minim to the next bar was misinterpreted in FE and in the majority of the editions based thereon as a beginning of the slur over b. 27-28. The mistake could have resulted from the tie having been written down unclearly, i.e. its middle part is most probably very poorly legible (on the available photograph, the fragment beginning the second, descending part of the tie is completely illegible). The tie was added by GE4, perhaps on the basis of a rhythmic analogy with the beginning of b. 29.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors in FE , GE revisions

b. 33

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

..

In A, the only cautionary accidental is a  before c at the beginning of the bar. FE (→GE,EE) added a  before C and a  before e1, while EE and GE3 (→GE4) also a  before the g2 semiquaver. In the main text we include all the above accidentals.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Editorial revisions

issues: EE revisions , GE revisions , Cautionary accidentals , Authentic corrections of FE , FE revisions

b. 33

composition: Op. 23, Ballade in G minor

..

In A (→FE), there is no  before the last semiquaver (e3) in the 1st half of the bar; the  restoring e2 on the 11th small quaver in the 2nd half is missing too. The former was added both by GE and EE; by contrast, none of the editions noticed the absence of the latter. 

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources

issues: EE revisions , Accidentals in different octaves , Omissions to cancel alteration , GE revisions , Inaccuracies in A , Errors repeated in GE , Errors repeated in FE , Errors repeated in EE