Fauré Barcarolle in Gb Major, Op. 42 - Note question

[mike_lang]

Dear PSbündler:

Does anyone know what the correct melodic note is in the 7th measure of Fauré's Gb Barcarolle, last eighth note?  Kathryn Stott plays f natural, but my teacher, Emile Naoumoff, points out that f is flat earlier in the bar and is never "naturalized."  To my ear, perhaps having learned it wrong, f natural sounds much better, and perhaps the justification is that the f flat earlier in the measure does not occur in the same voice.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

Best,
Michael Langlois

[classical pianist]

Dear Michael Langlois

i'm very glad to see someone taking Fauré seriously. he is a very interesting composer IMO.

regarding measure 7 (as well as measure 128) in the 3rd Barcarolle, op.42. My opinion, it is F flat.

unfortunately, i don't happen to have the manuscript. but regarding the information i have. first of all, it is written like that in German and French 1st and 2nd edition.

second, the f flat is on the second beat and the f in soprano is just 2/3 beat after, very close to the f flat... i don't think faure made a mistake here, even he randomly did in many place.

third, even you feel in your ears that f natural sounds better but the question is.. what was in faure's ears? For me i did try f natural just after reading your thread. it sounds both ok in my ears.

it is also very possible that faure wanted an f natural... but there is no proves of that.

IMO regarding the choice we have... i would play f flat... but if you really certain about f natural... just do it!!.. i think it's very interesting as well... (even it sounds more natural and f flat would sounds more inventive)

lastly, I DON"T THINK it's gonna be a big problem playing a different note. people will not say "AHHH  i don't like your playing because you play f natural instead of f flat....blablabla".... this kind of complaint is absolutely dispensable.


for more information... PETER's edition just made a new edition for Faure's piano music edited by Roy Howatt.. There are many corrections made... some have an obvious prove, and some are just inquiries ....pls try to make a research on this edition.

all the best,
 

[mike_lang]

Dear Classical Pianist,

Thank you for your kind reply.  I will try to listen to a few other recordings and discover what other artists have chosen in this phrase; and perhaps my teacher, who was taught by a Fauré disciple, may have access to a manuscript.  I agree that in accordance with this closed score writing which gives F flat earlier in the measure, it should be an F flat, but like you say, both seem to be plausible solutions.

Thanks,
Michael