"Ossia" in Chopin's first ballade

[klik11]

Why does it mean? What should I play at the second bar?

[philb]

Either or, You can play the standard or you can play the ossia bar.

[klik11]

I see. Any recommendation?

[quantum]

I like the standard version.

[54545]

The ossia was not actually written by Chopin, rather it was added by the german editors in the first german edition. In the autograph, E-flat is the correct reading as is the french first edition. (see Mikuli's explanation).

[pianisten1989]

The e-flat is kind of.. off. From C minor to a E-flat with a D in the bass (e-flat major maj7). G minor makes a lot more sense. Though, you will be kicked in the family-fortune of you play d instead of e-flat...

[klik11]

The ossia was not actually written by Chopin, rather it was added by the german editors in the first german edition.

Excuse me but... in what right? Why would anyone play something that has been added by some editor instead of the real Chopin?

[cygnusdei]

On the next page the motif returns with a fuller harmony. I think Chopin meant the e♭either as a passing tone or a tonic of major seventh chord.

[lelle]

I think the e-flat should be played. It was the original notation, it sounds better (in my opinion), and it creates more tension, making the dominant resolving into the tonic in the next bars all the more satisfying. Playing the d makes the passage sound flat and a lot less interesting.