Chopin National Edition Explained

National Edition of the Works of Fryderyk Chopin
Editors:Jan Ekier, Paweł Kamiński
Country:Poland
Language:Polish, English
Publisher:PWM Edition
Pub Date:1967–2010
Media Type:Urtext
Number Of Books:37
Oclc:668111267

The National Edition of the Works of Fryderyk Chopin (Polish: Wydanie Narodowe Dzieł Fryderyka Chopina ), also known as the Chopin National Edition and the Polish National Edition, is an urtext edition of the complete works by Frédéric Chopin, aiming to present his output in its authentic form.

Started by Jan Ekier in 1959, the entirety of Chopin's known works were published in 37 volumes from 1967 to 2010, accompanied by source and performance commentaries. The Chopin National Edition is considered the authoritative edition of Chopin's works, and is recommended to contestants of the International Chopin Piano Competition.

History

In 1959, Jan Ekier started the project of a new critical edition of Chopin's works, as he came to the conclusion that the prevailing Paderewski edition presented a "false image of Chopin's music in many aspects". The first volume of Ballades was published in 1967 by PWM Edition, featuring a minimalist design with white covers. A total of nine volumes were published up to 1991, with a publication rhythm that correlated to each edition of the quinquennial International Chopin Piano Competition.

After the Revolutions of 1989, the edition was re-evaluated from a market perspective. While the first editions were typeset manually and accompanied by Polish commentary only, the new editions were typeset using SCORE, with bilingual (Polish and English) annotations.

In 1998, Ekier established the Foundation for the National Edition of the Works of Fryderyk Chopin, for fundraising, research, publication and promotion of the National Edition.[1] In 2004, he received a special award from the Minister of Culture of Poland, "in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the preservation and popularization of the legacy of Fryderyk Chopin, in particular for the monumental National Edition of his works, restoring to European culture the art of the great Polish composer in a form closest to its historical original."[2]

The edition was completed in 2010, in time for the bicentenary of Chopin's birth.

Volumes

As an urtext, the Chopin National Edition aims to produce a musical text that adheres to the original notation and the composer's intentions. All extant sources were analyzed and verified for authenticity, mainly autographs, first editions with Chopin's corrections and pupils' copies with Chopin's annotations. Necessary editorial decisions are documented in each volume's source commentary. Additionally, a separate performance commentary documents cases where Chopin's notation may be misunderstood by contemporary pianists, such as realizations of ornaments and pedaling.[1]

The Chopin National Edition consists of 36 volumes in two series, for works published during Chopin's lifetime (Series A), and for works published posthumously (Series B). A 37th volume (titled Supplement) consists of compositions partly by Chopin, for instance his contribution to Hexameron.

Series A: Works published during Chopin's lifetime!No.!Cat.!Contents!
1A IBalladeshttps://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/ballades_commentaries.pdf
2A IIÉtudeshttps://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/etudes_commentaries.pdf
3A IIIImpromptushttps://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Impromptus_commentaries.pdf
4A IVMazurkas (A)https://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/mazurkas-commentaries.pdf
5A VNocturneshttps://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/nocturnes_commentaries.pdf
6A VIPolonaises (A)https://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/polonaises_A_commentaries.pdf
7A VIIPreludeshttps://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/preludes_commentaries.pdf
8A VIIIRondoshttps://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/rondos_commentaries.pdf
9A IXScherzoshttps://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/scherzos_commentaries.pdf
10A XSonatashttps://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/sonatas_commentaries.pdf
11A XIWaltzes (A)https://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/waltzesA_commentaries.pdf
12A XIIVarious Works (A)https://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/various-works_commentaries.pdf
13A XIIIaPiano Concerto No. 1 (for one piano)https://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/conc_e_1_piano_commentaries.pdf
14A XIIIbPiano Concerto No. 2 (for one piano)https://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/conc-f_1_piano_commentaries.pdf
15A XIVaConcert works for piano and orchestra (for one piano)https://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/conc.works_1_piano_commentaries.pdf
16A XIVbAndante spianato et grande polonaise brillante (for one piano)https://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/polonaise_op.22_1_piano_commentaries.pdf
17A XVaVariations on "Là ci darem la mano" (score)https://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/variations_op.-2_commentaries.pdf
18A XVbPiano Concerto No. 1 (historical score)https://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/conc_e_historical_score.pdf
19A XVcFantasy on Polish Airs (score)https://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/fantasia_op.13_commentaries.pdf
20A XVdRondo à la Krakowiak (score)https://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/krakowiak_op.14_commentaries.pdf
21A XVePiano Concerto No. 2 (historical score)https://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/conc.-f_historical_score.pdf
22A XVfAndante spianato et grande polonaise brillante (score)https://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/polonaise_op.22_score_commentaries.pdf
23A XVIWorks for Piano and Cellohttps://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Commentaries-cello.pdf
24A XVIIPiano Triohttps://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/trio_commentaries.pdf
Series B: Works published posthumously!No.!Cat.!Contents!
25B IMazurkas (B)https://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/mazurkas_B_commentaries.pdf
26B IIPolonaises (B)https://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Polonaises-B_commentaries.pdf
27B IIIWaltzes (B)https://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/waltzes-B_commentaries.pdf
28B IVVarious Works (B)https://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/various-works_B_commentaries.pdf
29B VVarious Compositionshttps://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/various-compositions_commentaries.pdf
30B VIaPiano Concerto No. 1 (for two pianos)https://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/conc_e_2pianos_commentaries.pdf
31B VIbPiano Concerto No. 2 (for two pianos)https://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/conc_-f_2pianos_commentaries.pdf
32B VIIConcert works for piano and orchestra (for two pianos)https://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Conc.Works_2pianos_commentaries.pdf
33B VIIIaPiano Concerto No. 1 (concert score)https://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/conc_e_concertscore_commentaries.pdf
34B VIIIbPiano Concerto No. 2 (concert score)https://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/conc_f_concertscore_commentaries.pdf
35B IXRondo in C for two pianos, Variations in D for four handshttps://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/rondo_varations_commentaries.pdf
36B XSongshttps://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/songs_commentaries.pdf

Catalogue (WN)

The edition provides a new numbering scheme ("WN") for works published after Chopin's death, similar to existing catalogues by Maurice J. E. Brown (B) and Krystyna Kobylańska (KK). Some works have opus numbers assigned after Chopin's death by Julian Fontana, who grouped a number of unpublished piano pieces into eight opus numbers (Op. 66–73).[3]

WN catalogue!WN!Title!Op. (Fontana)!Completion date!First edition
1Polonaise in B-flat major18171910
2Polonaise in G minor18171947
3Polonaise in A-flat major18211908
4Polonaise in G-sharp minor18241864
5Variations in D major for 4 hands1824–18261965
6Variations in E major18241851
7Mazurka in B-flat major18261851
8Mazurka in G major18261851
9Funeral march in C minor72''18261855
10Polonaise in B-flat minor18261881
11Polonaise in D minor71 No. 11825–18271855
12Polonaise in F minor71 No. 31826–1828 (-29?)1855
13
  1. Ecossaise in G major
  2. Ecossaise in D-flat major
  3. Ecossaise in D major
  • 72 No. 2
  • 72 No. 3
  • 72 No. 1
1826 (1830?)1855
14Mazurka in A minor68 No. 218271855
(op. 4)Sonata in C minor1827/281851
15Rondo in C major for 2 pianos7318281855
16Warianty ("Variants") (Souvenir de Paganini)18291881
17Polonaise in B-flat major71 No. 218291855
17aMazurka in G major1829
18Waltz in E major18291861
19Waltz in B minor69 No. 218291852
20Waltz in D-flat major70 No. 318291855
21"Życzenie"74 No. 1about 18291857
22"Gdzie lubi"74 No. 5about 18291859
23Nocturne in E minor72'1827(?)–18301855
24Mazurka in C major68 No. 118301855
25Mazurka in F major68 No. 318301855
26Mazurka in G major67 No. 11830 (1835?)1855
27Contredans1830 (1827?)1948
28Waltz in A-flat major1829–18301902
29Waltz in E minor1830 (?)1868
30"Poseł"74 No. 718301859
31"Czary"1830 (?)1951
32"Hulanka"74 No. 418301859
33"Precz z moich oczu"74 No. 618301853
34"Wojak"74 No. 1018301857
35Polonaise in G-flat major18301869-70(about 1859?)
36[Allegretto]1829–18311990
37Lento con gran espressione (Nocturne in C-sharp minor)18301875
38"Piosnka litewska"74 No. 161830 (1831?)1859
39"Smutna rzeka"74 No. 318311859
40"Narzeczony"74 No. 1518311859
41Mazurka in B-flat major18321953
42Waltz in G-flat major70 No. 118321855
43Cantabile18341955
44Presto con leggierezza (Prelude in A-flat major)18341919
45Mazurka in A-flat major18341930
46Impromptu in C-sharp minor (Fantaisie-Impromptu)66about 18341855
47Waltz in A-flat major69 No. 1→18351855
48Mazurka in C major67 No. 318351855
49"Leci liście z drzewa"74 No. 1718361873→
50"Pierścień"74 No. 1418361859
51"Moja pieszczotka"74 No. 1218371859
52"Wiosna"74 No. 218381859
52a"Wiosna" for piano18381990
53Sostenuto (Waltz in E-flat major)18401955
54"Śliczny chłopiec"74 No. 818411859
55Waltz F minor70 No. 218411852
56Moderato (Leaf from the album)18431912
57"Nie ma, czego trzeba"74 No. 1318451859
58"Dwojaki koniec"74 No. 1118451859
59Gallop Marquis1846-471990
60Mazurka in A minor67 No. 41846-471855
61"Z gór, gdzie dźwigali" <"Melodia"> (Melody)74 No. 918471859
62Nocturne in C minor1847–18481938
63Waltz in A minor1847–18491955
64Mazurka in G minor67 No. 21848–18491855
65Mazurka in F minor68 No. 418491855 (partly)1965 (full)

Reception

Reception of the National Edition has been positive. Paul Badura-Skoda called it "the best available Chopin edition made with extreme care and precision". Jim Samson wrote that "by far the best of the modern editions is Jan Ekier's Polish National. Ekier does work with well thought-through editorial principles and his text comes closer than any other to a faithful reproduction of a single ('best') source." According to Frans Brüggen, the edition "seems to be very trustworthy. Having compared all the different sources available, Professor Ekier was able to make good editorial decisions."[4]

References

Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Foundation for the National Edition of the Works of Fryderyk Chopin. 14 August 2021. Fryderyk Chopin Institute. 24 November 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161124092731/http://en.chopin.nifc.pl/chopin/institutions/text/cat/1/page/2/id/1527. dead.
  2. Web site: Jan Ekier. 14 August 2021. Culture.pl. pl.
  3. Book: Numbering and Chronology of the Works Published After Chopin's Death.
  4. Web site: Chopin National Edition. live. 14 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210814121309/https://www.chopin-nationaledition.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/o_wydaniu_narodowym.pdf . 2021-08-14 .