Previously Unknown Chopin Waltz Discovered in New York Museum

A curator at the Morgan Library & Museum uncovered a 200-year-old manuscript believed to be penned by Frédéric Chopin, marking the first such find in nearly a century.

• The waltz, discovered by curator Robinson McClellan, was found on a small manuscript card bearing Chopin's name and dates between 1830 and 1835.
• Experts, including Jeffrey Kallberg from the University of Pennsylvania, have authenticated the handwriting and materials as consistent with Chopin's known works.
• The piece is notably short, around 80 seconds, and features an unusual, stormy opening, which experts say is atypical but still characteristic of Chopin's style.
• Lang Lang, a renowned pianist, recorded the waltz, describing it as having a dramatic darkness that transforms into something positive.
• The manuscript was part of a collection donated to the Morgan Library in 2019, remaining uncatalogued until its recent discovery and authentication.

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