mUltimate Chopin

Op. 63 No. 2, Mazurka in F minor

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b. 2

composition: Op. 63 No. 2, Mazurka in F minor

a-c1-f1 triad in As

a-f1 sixth in FE (→GE,EE)
..

The triad in the original version in As, identical to the version of the analogous bar 10, was replaced by a sixth in the published version. Chopin seems to have strived to concentrate expression, i.a. through stricter control of the voices – cf. e.g. bar 25.

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

issues: Accompaniment changes

b. 3

composition: Op. 63 No. 2, Mazurka in F minor

Rest in As, contextual interpretation

b-e1 in FE (→GE,EE)
..

In As the third beat in the L.H. part is not recorded. Since chord repetitions are marked in As by vertical lines symbolizing the stems of repeated chords, we assume that Chopin intended a rest here. It is possible, however, that he considered the repetition of the previous crotchet so obvious that he even omitted the abbreviated marking of this beat.

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

issues: Accompaniment changes

b. 4-11

composition: Op. 63 No. 2, Mazurka in F minor

f in As

F in FE (→GE,EE)
..

Moving basses in similar contexts an octave lower (and sometimes replacing them with octaves) is one of the most frequent changes introduced by Chopin while refining already shaped, yet not completely ready musical ideas. See also bar 11.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Accompaniment changes , Bass register changes

b. 4

composition: Op. 63 No. 2, Mazurka in F minor

c1 in chord in As, contextual interpretation

d1 in last chord in FE (→GE,EE)
..

In As, Chopin marked the 3rd L.H. crotchet as a repetition of the previous one, which gives a-c1-f1. In the published version, Chopin slightly varied the harmonic progression at this passage.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Accompaniment changes

b. 6-7

composition: Op. 63 No. 2, Mazurka in F minor

As version

FE (→GE,EE) version
..

Chopin decided to publish bar 7 – together with the last quaver in bar 6 – in a changed version with respect to the notation of As. However, according to us, it is uncertain which version was earlier, since the notation of As suggests that corrections were being made to the first version:

  • it seems that the natural at the end of bar 6 was added later,
  • the 1st quaver in bar 7 could have been changed from g1 to a1,
  • it seems that the 2nd quaver was added in between the adjacent ones,
  • the flag and it having been slashed in the a1 grace note seem to have been added to the stem of a normal quaver (penultimate in the initial version).

If all the above assumptions proved to be true, it would turn out that it was the final version that was entered first (except the enharmonically equivalent notation of the 2nd quaver in bar 7,  g1 instead of a1). Therefore, it would be a very clear example of Chopin's hesitation.

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

issues: Chopin's hesitations , Main-line changes