Observations

His little Chopin waltz, handwritten on paper no larger than an index card, is nevertheless a complete composition, unknown until it was discovered in the spring of 2024 by Dr. Robinson McClellan, curator of music manuscripts at the Morgan Library and Museum in New York. It turned out to be the first new discovery of a Chopin work since 1930. According to notes issued by The Morgan, Chopin was known to give these little works as gifts to admirers for their autograph albums. Interestingly, Chopin did not sign this. The signature at the top was penned by someone else which suggests he may have either changed his mind or decided to withhold this score for some other unknown reason.

For a more detailed account, see The New York Times Arts section, Monday, October 28, 2024 or The Morgan Library and Museum’s website, Special Music Collections.