mUltimate Chopin

Op. 63 No. 2, Mazurka in F minor

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Issues : Main-line 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

b. 8-9

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

..

In As one can see a tie to the c1 minim in bar 8, sustaining it to the grace note in the next bar. Chopin eventually deleted it; however, it proves that he was considering this operation (not found in other pieces) – an unplayed grace note – and that it could have been used as diversification in bars 48-49 in the final version.

category imprint: Corrections & alterations; Source & stylistic information

issues: Main-line changes

b. 12

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

e2 in As

e2 in FE (→GE,EE)
..

Chopin's omission of accidentals defining the alteration occurred only exceptionally, so the lack of an accidental before the last quaver in As, which makes it an e2, is probably an earlier version.

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Main-line changes

b. 21

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

f1-g1 in As

e1-f1 in FE (→GE,EE)
..

As includes in this bar only the two R.H. melody notes, which we interpret as an indication that it is the accompanying voices from bar 17 that should be repeated here (see next comment). One can also see that initially Chopin probably wanted to repeat the version of that bar in the melody too – the minim that opens the bar was first written as e1. While preparing the Mazurka for print the composer eventually discarded the notion of diversifying the melody in this bar and maintained a strict analogy with the previous phrase.

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

issues: Chopin's hesitations , Main-line changes

b. 23-24

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

Dotted rhythm in As

Minim in FE (→GE,EE)
..

The As version with a dotted rhythm in the upper voice was most likely changed by Chopin already in [A] (→FE→GE,EE). However, in bar 24, the first note (g1) was probably remade from a minim to a dotted crotchet, which means that in this bar Chopin changed his mind twice, ultimately returning to the first idea (minim).

category imprint: Differences between sources; Corrections & alterations

issues: Chopin's hesitations , Main-line changes