A new waltz by Frédéric Chopin has been discovered by a curator at the Morgan Library & Museum in New York City. This marks the first time that music by the renowned composer has been found since the 1930s. The manuscript was identified by Robinson McClellan while cataloging items from a newly donated collection in 2019. The waltz, written on a small piece of paper with Chopin’s name at the top, puzzled McClellan as he couldn’t match it to any of Chopin’s known works.
Chopin is believed to have composed numerous waltzes, but only a few have been published, leaving many of his works lost to history. When McClellan shared a picture of the manuscript with Jeffrey Kallberg, a Chopin scholar at the University of Pennsylvania, Kallberg was stunned by the discovery. The two experts then embarked on a journey to authenticate the piece, enlisting the help of Chopin scholars and paper conservators.
The newly discovered waltz, dating back to the 1830s when Chopin was in his 20s, is unique in its structure and composition. It is shorter than his other waltzes and features moody and dissonant measures leading to a melancholic melody, unlike any of his known works. Despite these differences, experts believe that the composition offers insight into Chopin’s creative process during his early years of experimentation.
Paper conservators confirmed that the paper and ink used in the manuscript were consistent with materials Chopin would have used at the time. The handwriting analysis also matched other manuscripts by the composer, leading to a “strong likelihood” that Chopin wrote the piece. While the waltz is short, experts do not consider it unfinished, as Chopin sometimes gifted small pieces like this to friends.
The discovery of this lost waltz sheds new light on Chopin as a composer and raises questions about when the piece was written and for whom it was intended. McClellan expresses excitement about sharing this newly found music with the world of classical piano enthusiasts. The piece, hidden for nearly two centuries, is now being brought into the spotlight thanks to McClellan’s discovery.
This remarkable find expands our understanding of Chopin’s musical legacy and invites scholars to delve deeper into the mysteries of his compositions. The newly discovered waltz is a testament to Chopin’s genius and creativity, offering a glimpse into the mind of one of history’s greatest composers for the piano.
