A previously unknown waltz, believed to be composed by Polish master Frederic Chopin, has been discovered nearly two centuries after its creation.
The rare manuscript, dating from around 1830-1835, was unearthed by curator Robinson McClellan in the vault of the Morgan Library and Museum in New York while cataloguing newly acquired collections.
Though unsigned, the waltz bears Chopin’s distinctive bass clef handwriting, leading experts to believe it is authentic.
McClellan collaborated with a leading Chopin authority to verify the manuscript.
While minor rhythmic and notational errors suggest it may not be fully polished, McClellan expressed confidence in its origins: “What we’re most certain about is it is written in the hand of Chopin, on paper that he himself used,” he told BBC Newshour.
“There are atypical aspects of the music, with a stormy opening that’s a bit surprising, but the melody has that unmistakable Chopin quality.”
Superstar pianist Lang Lang has already recorded the waltz, exclusively shared by the New York Times, which broke the story.
Chopin, renowned for his expressive piano solos, passed away in France in 1849 at age 39 after battling illness and hallucinations, which some researchers suggest may have been linked to epilepsy.
Sir Stephen Hough, a classical pianist who recently performed at the Last Night of the Proms and has recorded all of Chopin’s waltzes, expressed enthusiasm for the discovery.
“To find anything from someone you’ve revered in that way for so many years is thrilling,” he told the BBC.
Hough admitted initial doubts due to the roughness of the piece but concluded that it retains Chopin’s genius: “It’s a bit like coming across a sketch of a Keats poem that isn’t fully finished—there’s still a sense of brilliance.”
However, Hough also suggested that this waltz may not rank among Chopin’s finest: “There’s quite a bit of juvenilia that Chopin kept in a drawer and never intended to publish.
This probably belongs in that drawer.” Nonetheless, the discovery of this waltz offers a rare glimpse into Chopin’s creative process and adds a fascinating new piece to his enduring legacy.
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