Chopin’s Lost Waltz

Museum discovers a long lost manuscript penned by Frederic Chopin.

In 2019, Dr. Robinson McLellan was working as an Assistant Curator of Music at the Morgan Library & Museum in New York when he stumbled upon a tattered old manuscript about the size of an index card inscribed with the name Chopin. He shared a photo of the find with Jeffrey Kallberg, a leading Chopin scholar at the University of Pennsylvania and a thorough analysis was performed.

The work was determined to be a genuine composition by Frederic Chopin, dating to the 1830’s, making this Chopin’s first "new" work uncovered in nearly a one-hundred years.

The short waltz is composed of only 48 measures. Experts think it may have been a personal gift, though it was never signed.

Lang Lang, the renowned pianist, recently brought the waltz to life. His performance of the waltz plays for around 80 seconds and has an emotional tone that differentiates it from Chopin's other waltzes. It starts off very dramatically before moving into a more somber melody. He characterized the tone and feel as an authentic slice of Chopin, conjuring imagery of Poland’s rugged winters.

The amazing work of this master of the Romantic period continues to delight and surprise us today. 

What does Miss Marlene have to say about Chopin? 

1. The truth behind the “Minute Watz.”
   Can you play this classic in a minute? watch video

2. Chopin’s music in modern cinema.
   A Chopin nocturne was used in The Eddy Duchin Story. watch video

3. He specialized in shorter compositions.
   While other composers were out there writing hour-long symphonies, Chopin specialized in short, emotional pieces. His Nocturnes and Preludes are like little musical snapshots. He was not a wealthy man and would often write short pieces as payment for his room and board.

4. His poor health was his superpower.
   Chopin had a rough time with his health, possibly battling tuberculosis for much of his life. It could be that the inspiration he expressed when he felt good was fueled by the pain and suffering of his illness.

5. He made piano lessons fun.
   Chopin took piano playing to the next level. His Études weren’t just finger exercises—they were works of art. Pianists today still practice them to show off their skills and learn some Chopin magic.

Frederic Chopin overcame many struggles in his lifetime to create a transformative body of work that shapes how we think about piano music today. 

You can read the official press release from the Morgan Library & Museum here.

Sources: https://www.classicfm.com/composers/chopin/new-waltz-discovered-200-years/, https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/27/arts/music/chopin-waltz-discovery.html