mUltimate Chopin

Op. 31, Scherzo in B♭ minor

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Slurs

b. 451-452

composition: Op. 31, Scherzo in B♭ minor

Slur to g in A (→FC), literal reading (→GE1)

Slur to e in A (→FC), contextual interpretation (→FE→EE) & in GE2 (→GE3)
..

The slur of A (→FC) reaches the line ending b. 451, yet it does not go beyond it, so it is uncertain whether it is supposed to encompass the e minim in the next bar or not. In the main text we adopt the former as closer to the notation of analogous b. 349-350, in which the respective minim is certainly encompassed with a slur. This is how the slur was interpreted in FE (→EE), whereas in GE1 the slur ends on the last g note in b. 451.
In FE the slur begins already under the third of the top voice in b. 450, which is a patent inaccuracy.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in FE , Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 453

composition: Op. 31, Scherzo in B♭ minor

Slur in A (→FE→EE)

No slur in FC (→GE)
..

The missing slur in FC (→GE) must be a mistake of the copyist.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors of FC

b. 477-478

composition: Op. 31, Scherzo in B♭ minor

Slur in A (literal reading→FE→EE) & GE2

Slur to bar 478 in A (contextual interpretation→FC→GE1) & GE3
..

When interpreted literally, the slur of A does not go beyond b. 477. A comparison with an analogous motif in b. 485-486 confirms the validity of the interpretation of that slur by FC (→GE1) and GE3. In turn, it is difficult to say what the motivation of the reviser of GE2 was while shortening that slur (and analogous in b. 481-482, 485-486 and 489-490), since he did not have access to A.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , GE revisions

b. 481-482

composition: Op. 31, Scherzo in B♭ minor

Slur to bar 482 in A (→FC→GE1) & GE3

Slur in bar 481 in FE (→EE) & GE2
..

While the slur of A does not reach the 1st octave in b. 482, it does go beyond the bar line, which indicates that it was supposed to reach that octave. This is how it was understood by Fontana in FC (→GE1); moreover, such a slur – without a doubt – is present in analogous b. 489-490. The versions of GE2 and GE3 prove inconceivable dilemmas of the revisers of the second German edition concerning the range of that and similar slurs.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in FE , Inaccurate slurs in A , GE revisions

b. 485-490

composition: Op. 31, Scherzo in B♭ minor

4-note slurs in A (→FC→GE1, →FE→EE)

3-note slurs in GE2
..

The shorter slurs of GE2 in b. 485-486 and 489-490 (as well as in b. 477-478, 481-482 and 490-491) must be a result of a revision, although the reason thereof is unclear. It could have been due to thinking in terms of bowing: adding a note both ending a motif and falling on a strong beat of the bar to the previous ones would be unnatural on string instruments. 

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: GE revisions