mUltimate Chopin

Op. 63 No. 1, Mazurka in B major

Text Compare Notes Sources Description

Issues : Main-line changes

b. 10

composition: Op. 63 No. 1, Mazurka in B major

B-major chord on 2nd beat in AI

Diminished seventh chord in FE (→GE,EE)
..

In an earlier version, written down in AI, the entire bar is based on a B major chord, while the thirds in the melody constitute a delay. The final version replaced the melodic tension with harmonic one by introducing a diminished four-note chord as the chord leading to B major. See also bar 78.
Such a variation in subsequent versions of one place is to be found in, e.g. the Nocturne in D, Op. 27 No. 2, bar 9 (cf. also bar 33), and a variation used in subsequent phrases – in the Waltz in A, Op. 34 No. 1 in bars 25 and 29.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations; Source & stylistic information

issues: Accompaniment changes , Main-line changes

b. 24-25

composition: Op. 63 No. 1, Mazurka in B major

No tie in AI

Tie in FE (→GE,EE)
..

The missing tie to e2-d2 means that Chopin initially wanted this note to be repeated at the beginning of bar 25. The change of concept is confirmed by the corresponding change of slur – see the note in the next bar.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Main-line changes

b. 36-46

composition: Op. 63 No. 1, Mazurka in B major

d1 & d2 in AI

d1 & d2 after AI

d1 & d2 in FE (→GE,EE)

d1 & d2 after FE (→GE,EE)
..

Although the notation of bars 36 and 46 does not differ between AI and FE (→GE,EE), the difference in key signature means that the 2nd quaver is a d1(2) in AI, but a d1(2) in the editions. Both versions are written correctly:

  • in AI, in both bars one can see deleted accidentals to these notes, which proves that Chopin proofread the notation there;
  • the notation of FE1 does not contain any mistakes or inaccuracies in this section (bars 33-52), and the convenience resulting from the prevailing A major key (with d notes) was most probably the main reason behind the change of key signature.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Main-line changes

b. 55

composition: Op. 63 No. 1, Mazurka in B major

No A in AI

Quaver A in FE (→GE,EE)
..

The version of AI was eventually abandoned when Chopin prepared the Mazurka for print. However, the deletions visible in the manuscript suggest that the latest version (with quavers only) was at the same time the earliest one, since it was this version that Chopin most probably wrote first; only then did he change it to a version with a crotchet on the 2nd beat of the bar.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Main-line changes

b. 62

composition: Op. 63 No. 1, Mazurka in B major

Minim in AI

Dotted rhythm with quaver d in FE1

Dotted rhythm with quaver d after FE1

Dotted rhythm with quaver d in FE2 (→EE) & GE

Dotted rhythm with quaver d after FE2 (→EE) & GE
..

The version of AI with an f minim was replaced by Chopin in [A] by the version of FE (→GE,EE) with a dotted rhythm. However, in FE1, as in bars 58-60, Chopin almost certainly forgot about the  raising d to d in the last quaver, as a result of which it is a d. He added this sharp while proofreading FE2 (→EE); the accidental was also independently added by the reviser of GE, and this is the version we give in the main text.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Errors in FE , GE revisions , Authentic corrections of FE , Main-line changes