A thrilling new discovery has emerged from New York’s Morgan Library & Museum: a previously unknown waltz by Frédéric Chopin. This marks the first time in nearly 200 years that a new piece by the iconic composer has been found, offering a rare glimpse into his creative process.
The waltz, written on a small manuscript measuring just 4 by 5 inches, was discovered in 2019 by curator Robinson McClellan while sorting through a collection of musical scores. At first, McClellan noticed that the piece didn’t match any known waltz by Chopin, which piqued his curiosity. He then enlisted the help of Chopin scholar Jeffrey Kallberg, who conducted extensive research to authenticate the work.
Through careful analysis, it was confirmed that the manuscript was indeed by Chopin. The ink and paper were consistent with materials used by the composer in the 1830s, and the penmanship matched his known handwriting. The waltz also contains dynamic markings and fingerings, suggesting Chopin intended the piece to be performed, though it is unsigned—hinting that it may have originally been intended as a gift but never ultimately given away.
At only about one minute long, the Waltz in A minor is shorter than any of Chopin’s other waltzes, yet it remains a complete composition. Despite its brevity, the piece offers a fresh perspective on Chopin’s early style, revealing some of the musical hallmarks he would later perfect in his famous piano works. Its discovery gives scholars a new opportunity to reconsider the composer’s artistic development during his early years in Paris when he was just in his 20s.
The find is an exciting addition to the Chopin catalog and opens up new questions about his creative evolution. Though the waltz is small in scale, it provides valuable insight into the composer’s experimentation with form and dynamics.
If you'd like to hear the Waltz in A minor firsthand, world renowned pianist Lang Lang recently performed the piece for The New York Times. Watch his stunning rendition here.
It is a rare treasure that enriches our understanding of one of classical music’s most beloved figures.
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