A long-lost waltz by the great Polish pianist and composer Frédéric Chopin has been unearthed in the Morgan Library and Museum in Manhattan, sparking widespread enthusiasm in the classical music community. Robinson McClellan, while examining a collection of cultural artifacts, stumbled upon a small, worn manuscript marked with the name “Chopin” in the upper right corner. This discovery, a significant find in over fifty years, caught the attention of Jeffrey Kallberg, a prominent Chopin scholar from the University of Pennsylvania, who was astonished by the manuscript’s authenticity.
Hear: Lang Lang plays the nearly discovered Chopin piece
Another performance of the recently-discovered Chopin waltz: the Latvian pianist Katrina Suroveca plays the piece on a C. Bechstein Dresden.
The piece, believed to have been composed between 1830 and 1835 during Chopin’s early twenties, showcases a departure from his typical musical style. Though concise at 48 measures with a repeat, lasting about 80 seconds, this A-minor waltz features striking dynamic variations, including a robust triple forte. The eminent pianist Lang Lang, having recorded the piece at Steinway Hall for the New York Times, noted its stark opening and its evocative reflection of the harsh Polish winters, adding, “This may not be Chopin’s most complex work, but it truly embodies his authentic style.”
Frédéric Chopin, a Polish composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic era, is celebrated for revolutionizing the piano waltz. His music, predominantly for solo piano, combines a poetic genius with brilliant technical mastery. The waltzes, while often embodying a lively, flowing rhythm, also convey a range of deeper emotions, making them favorites not only in concert halls but also in intimate salons. Chopin’s waltzes have captivated audiences and musicians with their lyrical melodies and intricate passages, securing his legacy as a pivotal figure in classical music.
Related: Frédéric Chopin – Raindrop Prelude [Lang Lang]
Sources
- “A new piece by Chopin has been discovered after almost 200 years” on the Classic FM website
- Hear a Chopin Waltz Unearthed After Nearly 200 Years: An unknown work in the composer’s hand has emerged in a New York museum, the first such find in over half a century. The pianist Lang Lang plays it here. [NY Times – Behind a paywall]
