mUltimate Chopin

Op. 28 No. 21, Prelude in B♭ major

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Slurs

b. 7-12

composition: Op. 28 No. 21, Prelude in B♭ major

Slurs in A (→FE→EE)

No slurs in FC (→GE)
..

The missing L.H. slurs in FC (→GE) beginning in b. 7 and 11 (as well as 12 – see note in this bar) most probably resulted from the copyist's inadvertence.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors of FC

b. 8-11

composition: Op. 28 No. 21, Prelude in B♭ major

Slurs from 2nd to 6th quaver in A, literal reading

Slurs from 1st to 6th quaver in FC (→GE)

Slurs from 2nd quaver to next bar in FE (→EE)

Slurs from 2nd quaver to next bar suggested by editors
..

When interpreted literally, 3 consecutive slurs of A reach only the last quaver in the bar; moreover, the starting point of the slur in b. 9 is also not entirely clear (we assume that it is the 2nd quaver). Due to the reasons discussed in b. 1-2, we consider them to be inaccurate; in the main text we generally adopt the slurs of FE (→EE), compliant with the manner in which Chopin would correct in A some slurs in similar figures. In b. 9-10 the notation of the topmost L.H. notes on the top stave and writing them closer to the b1 minim opens an additional interpretation of the L.H. slur as reaching that minim. We include that possibility in the main text, regarding the version of FE (→EE) as an equal variant.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

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

b. 10-11

composition: Op. 28 No. 21, Prelude in B♭ major

Slur from semiquaver in A (→FE→EE)

Slur from minim in FC (→GE)
..

A late start of the slur is one of numerous slurring inaccuracies of Fontana in this Prelude – cf. the note to b. 2-4.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccuracies in FC

b. 12-13

composition: Op. 28 No. 21, Prelude in B♭ major

No slur in FC (→GE)
..

In A, the slur starting in bar 12, last in line, indicates a continuation, but its ending is absent from bar 13. We adopt a natural contextual interpretation in accord with the FE (→EE) version. In FC (→GE), the copyist overlooked this slur like the previous one.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , Errors of FC , Uncertain slur continuation

b. 23-24

composition: Op. 28 No. 21, Prelude in B♭ major

Continuous slur in A (→FE→EE)

Separate slurs in FC (→GE)
..

The broken slur in FC (→GE) may be explained by an erroneous interpretation of the notation of A, in which b. 23 closes the line. The notation of A is, however, unambiguous – both the ending of the slur in b. 23 and the beginning of the slur in b. 24 (in a new line) clearly indicate that the slur should be continued in this place. 

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Errors of FC