A long-lost waltz by the famed composer Frédéric Chopin has been uncovered at the Morgan Library and Museum in New York City.
Completely Unknown
Believed to date back nearly 200 years, the handwritten score was stumbled upon by curator Robinson McClellan while he was examining items in the library’s collection, according to Digi24.
When McClellan first saw the sheet, he was puzzled, finding no record of the composition in Chopin’s known works. Curious, he photographed the score and played it at home, but remained unsure about its authenticity.
To confirm the discovery, McClellan reached out to a Chopin expert at the University of Pennsylvania. Working together, they analyzed the ink and paper, which aligned with materials from the 1830s, when Chopin was in his early twenties.
Handwriting analysis also confirmed key features specific to Chopin’s style, such as unique notations and a stylized bass clef symbol that he often used. This evidence gave McClellan and his team confidence in the piece’s authenticity.
Particularly Valuable
The discovery of a new Chopin piece is rare and significant, as Chopin, who died in 1849 at age 39, left behind a relatively small catalog of compositions.
Most of his roughly 250 works were created for solo piano, making any additional pieces particularly valuable.
New finds like this waltz often spark excitement and debate in the classical music community, which has seen its share of forgeries and controversies around “discovered” masterpieces.
This newly authenticated waltz potentially adds a fresh layer to Chopin’s legacy. Despite his short life, his influence on music endures, and this rare discovery continues to deepen the appreciation for his work among musicians and classical enthusiasts alike.
The Morgan Library’s find is a testament to the richness of Chopin’s compositions, as even nearly two centuries later, his music continues to inspire and surprise.
