A previously unknown waltz believed to be composed by Frédéric Chopin has been discovered in the vault of the Morgan Library and Museum in New York City. The score was found on a card bearing Chopin’s name and was dated between 1830 and 1835. Curator Robinson McClellan discovered the piece while cataloguing new collections at the museum. After photographing and playing the score himself, McClellan enlisted the help of a Chopin expert from the University of Pennsylvania to authenticate it. While the waltz is not signed by Chopin, the penmanship matches his known style, including distinct bass clefs and doodling. While the authenticity of the music is not completely confirmed, many who have heard it believe it sounds like Chopin.
Renowned pianist Lang Lang performed the waltz for the New York Times and described it as very much in the style of Chopin, with dramatic darkness turning into a positive theme. Chopin, known for his piano solos, was born in 1810 to a French father and Polish mother. The museum believes the manuscript was written when Chopin was in his early 20s. While it is believed that Chopin wrote around 28 waltzes, only a portion of them were published during his lifetime. The discovery of this previously unknown waltz adds to the understanding of Chopin’s musical legacy and style.
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